Eupomatia laurina

Last updated

Eupomatia laurina
Euplaur.JPG
Bolwarra flowering in cultivation in Sydney
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Magnoliids
Order: Magnoliales
Family: Eupomatiaceae
Genus: Eupomatia
Species:
E. laurina
Binomial name
Eupomatia laurina

Eupomatia laurina, commonly named bolwarra, native guava or copper laurel, is a species of plant in the primitive flowering-plant family Eupomatiaceae endemic to Australia and New Guinea.

Contents

Description

It grows to between 3 and 5 m (10 and 16 ft) tall, but larger specimens may attain a height of 15 m (50 ft) and a trunk diameter of 30 cm (12 in). [4] It has glossy, ovate to elliptic leaves, from 5 to 20 cm (2 to 8 in) long. The branches bear globose to urn-shaped fruit which are green in colour and measure 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) in diameter. They yellow when ripe and contain pale-coloured, edible, jelly-like flesh inside, with many non-edible seeds (similar appearance to guava contents). [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy

This species was first described by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown, based on material collected by himself and other crew members between 1801 and 1803, during the circumnavigation of Australia with Matthew Flinders in HMS Investigator. His work was published as appendix III of volume 2 of Flinders' book A Voyage to Terra Australis. [7]

Brown created the new genus Eupomatia to accommodate this plant, and placed it in the family Annonaceae, but in 1845 the French botanist Charles Henry Dessalines d'Orbigny transferred it to the new family Eupomatiaceae. [7] [8]

Ecology

Flowers are pollinated by small weevils, including Elleschodes hamiltoni and others in the same genus.[ citation needed ]

Distribution and habitat

In Australia, it is found in humid forests of the east coast, from as far south as Nowa Nowa, Victoria, north through New South Wales and Queensland to Cape York Peninsula. In New Guinea, it is found throughout the island's eastern half (Papua New Guinea). [4] [5] [6] It usually grows as an understory plant in rainforests or humid Eucalyptus forests. [4] [5] [6]

Horticulture

In cultivation E. laurina is frost sensitive and prefers a protected, semi-shaded site. It can be propagated from seed or cuttings. Cutting propagated trees produce fruit after two years. Seedlings take four to six years to fruit. Cuttings are not advised as a method of regeneration. [4] Germination from fresh seed commences after around three weeks and completes after five weeks, with a high rate of germination.

Related Research Articles

<i>Flindersia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Flindersia is a genus of 17 species of small to large trees in the family Rutaceae. They have simple or pinnate leaves, flowers arranged in panicles at or near the ends of branchlets and fruit that is a woody capsule containing winged seeds. They grow naturally in Australia, the Moluccas, New Guinea and New Caledonia.

<i>Psidium cattleyanum</i> Species of tree

Psidium cattleyanum , commonly known as Cattley guava, strawberry guava or cherry guava, is a small tree in the Myrtaceae (myrtle) family. The species is named in honour of English horticulturist William Cattley. Its genus name Psidium comes from the Latin psidion, or "armlet." The red-fruited variety, P. cattleyanum var. cattleyanum, is commonly known as purple guava, red cattley guava, red strawberry guava and red cherry guava. The yellow-fruited variety, P. cattleyanum var. littorale is variously known as yellow cattley guava, yellow strawberry guava, yellow cherry guava, lemon guava and in Hawaii as waiawī. Although P. cattleyanum has select economic uses, it is considered the most invasive plant in Hawaii.

<i>Eupomatia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Eupomatia is a genus of three species of plants in the ancient family Eupomatiaceae, and is the sole genus in the family. Eupomatiaceae is recognised by most taxonomists and classified in the plant order Magnoliales. The three described species are shrubs or small trees, native to the rainforests and humid eucalypt forests of eastern Australia and New Guinea. The type species Eupomatia laurina was described in 1814 by Robert Brown.

<i>Sterculia quadrifida</i> Species of plant in the family Malvaceae

Sterculia quadrifida, also known as the peanut tree, monkey nut or red-fruited kurrajong is a small tree that grows in the rainforests, vine thickets, and gallery forests of New Guinea and northern Australia.

<i>Normanbya</i> Monotypic genus of palm endemic to Queensland

Normanbya is a monotypic genus of palms containing the single species Normanbya normanbyi, which is known by the common name black palm It is endemic to Queensland, Australia and is threatened by habitat destruction.

<i>Alpinia caerulea</i> Species of plant in the family Zingiberaceae

Alpinia caerulea, commonly known as native ginger or Australian ginger, is an understorey perennial herb in the family Zingiberaceae which grows in rainforest, gallery forest and wet sclerophyll forest in eastern Australia.

<i>Ehretia acuminata</i> Species of tree

Ehretia acuminata is a deciduous tree found in Japan, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, New Guinea and Australia. Fossil evidence suggests an ancient Laurasian origin. This group of plants spread to Australia and South America via Africa, when these continents were still joined.

<i>Flindersia australis</i> Species of tree

Flindersia australis, commonly known as crow's ash, flindosy or Australian teak, is a species of tree that is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It has pinnate leaves with between five and thirteen egg-shaped to elliptical leaflets, white to cream-coloured flowers arranged in panicles on the ends of branchlets and followed by woody capsules studded with short, rough points and containing winged seeds.

<i>Diospyros australis</i> Species of tree

Diospyros australis is the most southerly of the group of some 450 ebonies and persimmons. It is a shrub or small tree growing in rainforests of seaward eastern Australia. The habitat is in a variety of different rainforest forms, though not often seen in the cool temperate rainforests. The range of natural distribution is from Durras Lake near Batemans Bay in south east New South Wales, to Atherton in tropical Queensland.

<i>Elaeocarpus bancroftii</i> Species tree in the family Elaeocarpaceae endemic to Queensland, Australia

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.

<i>Cryptocarya triplinervis</i> Species of tree in the family Lauraceae

Cryptocarya triplinervis is a rainforest tree growing in eastern Australia. Common names include the three veined laurel, three veined cryptocarya and the brown laurel.

<i>Persoonia levis</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae native to New South Wales and Victoria in eastern Australia

Persoonia levis, commonly known as the broad-leaved geebung, is a shrub native to New South Wales and Victoria in eastern Australia. It reaches 5 m (16 ft) in height and has dark grey papery bark and bright green asymmetrical sickle-shaped leaves up to 14 cm (5.5 in) long and 8 cm (3.2 in) wide. The small yellow flowers appear in summer and autumn, followed by small green fleshy fruit, which are classified as drupes. Within the genus Persoonia, it is a member of the Lanceolata group of 58 closely related species. P. levis interbreeds with several other species where they grow together.

<i>Clerodendrum floribundum</i> Species of tree

Clerodendrum floribundum, known as the lolly bush or smooth clerodendrum, is a shrub or tree found in Australia and New Guinea. Its habitat is in or at the margins of coastal rainforests, up to 300 metres above sea level. In Western Australia it grows in drier areas, such as rocky sites, gorges, cliffs, floodplains and creek beds.

<i>Dillenia alata</i> Species of plant in the family Dilleniaceae

Dillenia alata, commonly known as red beech, golden guinea flower or golden guinea tree, is a tree in the Dilleniaceae family, found in tropical forests of the Moluccas, New Guinea, and northern Australia.

<i>Meiogyne cylindrocarpa</i> Species of plant in the family Annonaceae

Meiogyne cylindrocarpa, commonly known as fingersop or native apricot in Australia, is a small tree or shrub in the custard apple family Annonaceae, native to parts of tropical Asia and Australasia.

<i>Syzygium alliiligneum</i> Species of plant in the family Myrtaceae

Syzygium alliiligneum, commonly known as onionwood, Mission Beach satinash or bark in the wood is a species of plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland.

<i>Hypserpa laurina</i> Species of plant

Hypserpa laurina is a slender twining climber in the plant family Menispermaceae. It is native to New Guinea and northeastern Queensland in Australia.

<i>Leea rubra</i> Species of plant

Leea rubra, commonly known as red leea, is a plant in the family Vitaceae native to Bangladesh, Assam, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Borneo, the Philippines, New Guinea, the Northern Territory and Queensland. It is a small shrub growing up to 3 m (9.8 ft) tall with 2-, 3- or 4-pinnate leaves. The flower buds and stems are bright red, the five petals may be cream, pink or red. The fruit is a red, purple or black berry about 11 mm (0.43 in) diameter containing 4-6 seeds.

<i>Cupaniopsis flagelliformis</i> Species of plant

Cupaniopsis flagelliformis, commonly known as brown tuckeroo or weeping flower tamarind, is a tree in the lychee, guaraná and maple family Sapindaceae, which is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a small tree that inhabits drier or seasonal rainforests.

<i>Debregeasia australis</i> Species of plant

Debregeasia australis, commonly known as china grass or native ramie, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae endemic to Queensland, Australia.

References

  1. Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI); IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Eupomatia laurina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T144297071A149007808. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T144297071A149007808.en . Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  2. "Eupomatia laurina". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government . Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  3. "Eupomatia laurina R.Br". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Floyd, Alex G. (2008). Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia. Inkata Press. p. 156. ISBN   978-0-9589436-7-3.
  5. 1 2 3 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Eupomatia laurina". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government . Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 199. ISBN   978-0-9581742-1-3.
  7. 1 2 Brown, Robert (1814). "General remarks, geographical and systematical, on the botany of Terra Australis". A Voyage to Terra Australis. By Flinders, Matthew. Vol. 2, appendix III. London: G. & W. Nicol. pp. 597–598. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  8. "Eupomatiaceae". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.