Red beech | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Dilleniales |
Family: | Dilleniaceae |
Genus: | Dillenia |
Species: | D. alata |
Binomial name | |
Dillenia alata | |
Synonyms [3] | |
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Dillenia alata, commonly known as red beech, golden guinea flower or golden guinea tree, is a tree in the Dilleniaceae family, found in New Guinea, and the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia. It has found some popularity as an ornamental for tropical parks and large gardens due to its colourful flowers and fruit.
Dillenia alata is a medium-sized tree, growing to 20 m (66 ft) tall with a trunk up to 60 cm (24 in) diameter and a dense shady crown. It has a distinctive reddish brown, papery bark that peels easily. The leaves are simple and entire, that is, they have no marginal teeth, lobes or any other divisions of the leaf blade. They are glossy dark green and rather large, measuring up to 25 cm (9.8 in) long and 12 cm (4.7 in) wide, and there are between 8 and 14 lateral veins either side of the midrib. They are arranged spirally on the twigs, on petioles (leaf stalks) about 4 cm (1.6 in) long. The petioles are broadly and conspicuously winged, and they sheath the twig. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
The inflorescence is a raceme carrying up to 4 flowers, borne on the twigs more or less opposite a leaf, with each flower being held on a pedicel about 4 cm (1.6 in) long. The green calyx has five lobes in two whorls—the inner whorl has three lobes about 20 mm (0.8 in) long, and the outer with two lobes up to 13 mm (0.5 in) long. There are five (sometimes six) yellow, rounded petals about 4 cm (1.6 in) long and 2.5 cm (1 in) wide. Two circles of stamens are at the centre, the outer yellow ones are shorter and number about 100, the inner ones are taller, pink-red and number about 20. There are 6–8 carpels arranged around the receptacle with pink-red styles up to 12 mm (0.5 in) long; each carpel has 8–10 ovaries. [4] [5] [6]
The distinctive fruit is a dehiscent red capsule with a persistent calyx. It opens widely at maturity, spliting into 8 valves (or segments) and revealing a number of 4 mm (0.16 in) long black seeds which are fully enclosed in a waxy white aril. [4] [5] [6]
Flowering of this species has been observed throughout the year, but with a peak from June to September and a low around March. [5] [9]
The species was originally named Wormia alata by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown, and later formally described in 1817 by the Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle. [10] [11] His description was based on plant material collected by Joseph Banks at Point Lookout, Endeavour River, during James Cook's first voyage of discovery in 1770. [4]
The species was transferred to the genus Dillenia by Italian botanist Ugolino Martelli in 1886. [12]
The genus name Dillenia was given in honour of the German-born botanist Johann Jacob Dillenius. [5] [6] The specific epithet, alata, is derived from the Latin word āla , winged, and is a reference to the winged petioles. [6] [13]
The species is native to the islands of Waigeo, New Guinea, and the Torres Strait, as well as the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia. In New Guinea the majority of observations occur in the southernmost region of the island, adjacent to the Torres Strait. In the Northern Territory the species mostly occurs in the northeast of Arnhem Land, while in Queensland it occurs from the Torres Strait islands south along the east coast of Cape York Peninsula to about Cardwell. [14] [4] [5] [6]
It grows in rainforest, monsoon forest, and open woodland, but is most common in lowland forests in very wet areas such as coastal swamps and near watercourses. The altitudinal range is from sea level up to about 600 m (2,000 ft). [4] [5] [6]
The flowers are probably pollinated by carpenter bees (genus Xylocopa), and the fruit are eaten by a number of birds including the eclectus parrot (Eclectus polychloros). The tree is also host to larvae of the Queensland moth Pollanisus commoni . [5] [6]
As of September 2024 [update] , this species is considered to be of least concern by the IUCN, the Northern Territory Government and the Queensland Government. The IUCN statement says that the tree has "a very wide distribution, large population, [and] is not currently experiencing any major threats". It also states that no future threats are anticipated at this time. [1] [15] [16]
This species has "considerable horticultural merit", [4] and the Australian botanist David L. Jones, in his book Rainforest Plants of Australia, said "A striking ornamental, common along stream banks and in swampy soils. The leaves, bark, flowers and fruit are all highly decorative features". [7] In the city of Cairns, Queensland, more than 200 of these trees have been planted across the city by the Cairns Regional Council, mostly in parks and larger gardens. [17]
Idiospermum is a monotypic genus in the family Calycanthaceae. The sole included species is Idiospermum australiense − commonly known as idiotfruit, ribbonwood, or dinosaur tree − which is found only in two small areas of the tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia. It is a relic of the ancient forests of Gondwana, surviving in very localised refugia for 120 million years, and displaying features that are almost identical to fossil records from that time. As such it provides an important insight into the very early evolution of flowering plants.
Elaeocarpus grandis, commonly known as the blue quandong, silver quandong or blue fig, is a species of flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae which was first described in 1860. It is a large buttressed tree native to the coastal rainforests of northeastern Australia. The validity of this taxon is disputed, with some authorities accepting it and others presenting it as Elaeocarpus angustifolius.
Elaeocarpus bancroftii, commonly known as Kuranda quandong, Johnstone River almond, ebony heart, grey nut, or nut tree is a large rainforest tree in the family Elaeocarpaceae which is endemic to Queensland. It has coriaceous leaves, attractive white flowers and relatively large fruit containing an edible kernel.
Phaleria clerodendron, commonly known as scented daphne, scented phaleria or rosy apple, is an evergreen tree or tall shrub in the family Thymelaeaceae. It is endemic to the rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, Australia.
Didymocheton pettigrewianus, commonly known as spur mahogany, spurwood, or Cairns satinwood, is a large tree in the family Meliaceae. It is native to the rainforests of Malesia, Papuasia and Queensland. In Queensland it occurs only in a small part of the northeast coast.
Buckinghamia celsissima, commonly known as the ivory curl tree, ivory curl flower or spotted silky oak, is a species of tree in the family Proteaceae. It is endemic to the tropical rainforests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Nothorites is a monotypic genus in the macadamia family Proteaceae. The sole species, Nothorites megacarpus, is endemic to the wet tropics rain forests of northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Goniocheton arborescens, commonly known in Australia as Mossman mahogany, is a small tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is native to rainforests of Malesia, Papuasia, Queensland and nearby islands.
Palaquium galactoxylum, commonly known as Cairns pencil cedar, Daintree maple or red silkwood, is a species of plants in the star apple family Sapotaceae which is endemic to rainforests of New Guinea and northern Australia. It can produce spectacularly large buttress roots.
Melicope rubra, commonly known as the little evodia, is a species of small tree in the citrus family Rutaceae, native to New Guinea and northeast Queensland. It was originally described as Euodia rubra in 1900. It has trifoliate leaves and pink bisexual flowers arranged on branches below the leaves.
Gardenia actinocarpa is a rare and endangered plant in the coffee and gardenia family Rubiaceae, native to a very restricted area within the Wet Tropics rainforest of northeastern Queensland.
Harpullia ramiflora, commonly known as the Claudie tulipwood or Cape York tulipwood, is a tree in the Sapindaceae family native to north east Queensland, New Guinea and parts of Malesia.
Alstonia muelleriana is a tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae which is native to southern Papua New Guinea and northeastern Queensland.
Atractocarpus sessilis, commonly known as brown randia, is an evergreen shrub in the family Rubiaceae. It is native to both Queensland, Australia, and Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Peripentadenia phelpsii is a plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae which is endemic to a very small part of northeastern Queensland, Australia. It is a large evergreen tree with large buttresses, and was first described in 1982.
Harpullia rhyticarpa, commonly known as slender harpullia, is a plant in the family Sapindaceae which is endemic to the rainforests northeastern Queensland, Australia.
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Cupaniopsis flagelliformis, commonly known as brown tuckeroo or weeping flower tamarind, is a tree in the lychee and maple family Sapindaceae endemic to eastern Australia. It is a small tree that inhabits drier or seasonal rainforests.
Larsenaikia ochreata, commonly known as Wenlock gardenia, scented Gardenia bush or wild Gardenia, is a plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae endemic to Queensland, Australia.
Rhodamnia sessiliflora, commonly known as iron malletwood, is a small tree in the eucalyptus family Myrtaceae, found only in the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, Australia.