| Porcelain fruit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In flower at the Cairns Botanic Gardens | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Gentianaceae |
| Genus: | Fagraea |
| Species: | F. cambagei |
| Binomial name | |
| Fagraea cambagei | |
Fagraea cambagei, commonly known as porcelain fruit, pink jitta, or yellowheart, [1] is a plant in the family Gentianaceae which is endemic to rainforested parts of coastal northeast Queensland, Australia.
This is an evergreen tree growing up to 20 m (66 ft) in height, [4] [5] and the trunk of the tree is often marked with a plaited or woven pattern (see gallery). [6] The leaves are simple (i.e., without lobes or divisions) with an opposite arrangement. They are held on thick petioles (stems) measuring between 2 and 3.5 cm (0.79 and 1.38 in) long, they are elliptic to obovate in outline, and they measure up to 23 by 9 cm (9.1 by 3.5 in). [4] [5] [6]
The inflorescence is a terminal panicle with up to 30 fragrant bell-shaped flowers. [4] [5] [6] They measure up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long with five cream-coloured petals, and may occur at any time of year. [5] The fruit is, in botanical terms, a berry up to 3.5 by 4.5 cm (1.4 by 1.8 in), white, pink or red and with a shiny appearance that gives rise to the common name "porcelain fruit". [4] [5] [6] They may or may not contain seeds, which are about 7 mm (0.28 in) long. [4] [5] [6]
Fagraea cambagei was first described in 1928 by the Czech botanist Karel Domin, and published in the journal Bibliotheca Botanica . [2] [3] Up until early 2023, Plants of the World Online had misapplied the name Fagraea gracilipes to this species. [6] [5]
The genus name Fagraea was coined by Carl Peter Thunberg in honour of the botanist and physician Jonas Theodor Fagraeus. [5] Domin created the species epithet cambagei in honour of the Australian botanist and surveyor Richard Hind Cambage. [5]
The porcelain fruit grows as an understory tree in well developed coastal or sub-coastal rainforest, often in very waterlogged habitats such as swamps and close to creeks. Its range extends from near Rossville south to the area around Innisfail, and from sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft). [4] [5] [6]
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern. [1] As of 5 May 2023 [update] , it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Floydia is a monotypic genus of plants in the macadamia family Proteaceae which is endemic to Australia. The sole described species is Floydia praealta, commonly known as the ball nut. It is a somewhat rare tree found only growing in the rainforests of southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. The tree has a superficial resemblance to the closely related Macadamia and could be confused with them. The fruit of F. praealta is poisonous.
Athertonia is a monotypic genus of plants in the family Proteaceae. The sole described species is Athertonia diversifolia, commonly known as Atherton oak, athertonia, creamy silky oak or white oak. It is endemic to a small part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. A relative of the macadamia, it has potential in horticulture and the bushfood industry.
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana – commonly known as Bangalow palm, king palm, Illawara palm or piccabeen palm – is a tree in the palm family Arecaceae, which is endemic to the east coast of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia.
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.
Guioa semiglauca, known as the guioa or wild quince, is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia It grows from Kioloa near Batemans Bay in southern New South Wales to Eungella National Park in tropical Queensland. It grows in many different types of rainforest, particularly common in regenerating areas and on sand in littoral rainforest.
Xanthostemon chrysanthus, commonly known as golden penda, is a species of tree in the myrtle family Myrtaceae which is endemic to north eastern Queensland, Australia. It is a popular garden plant with showy yellow blooms, and is the floral emblem of the city of Cairns.
Atractocarpus fitzalanii, commonly known as the brown gardenia or yellow mangosteen, is a species of plant in the coffee and madder family Rubiaceae. It is found in coastal parts of tropical Queensland, Australia. The beautifully scented flowers and glossy foliage has seen this plant enter cultivation in gardens of eastern 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.
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.
Baileyoxylon is a monotypic genus in the family Achariaceae. The sole described species is Baileyoxylon lanceolatum which is restricted to a very small part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland. It was described in the mid 20th century.
Ostrearia is a monotypic genus - i.e. a genus containing only one species - of plants in the witch-hazel family Hamamelidaceae. It is the first described of three monotypic Australian genera in this family, the others being Neostrearia and Noahdendron. It is most closely related to these genera, as well as Trichocladus from southern Africa and Dicoryphe from Madagascar, and together these five genera form a distinct clade within Hamamelidaceae.
Syzygium unipunctatum, commonly known as the rolypoly satinash, is a small tree in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to the rainforests of the Wet Tropics of Queensland.
Xanthophyllum octandrum, commonly known as Macintyre's boxwood, false jitta, yellow boxwood or sovereignwood, is a slow-growing tree in the milkwort family Polygalaceae which has the potential to reach thousands of years of age. It is endemic to coastal northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Alstonia muelleriana is a tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae which is native to southern Papua New Guinea and northeastern Queensland.
Alyxia oblongata, commonly known as the chain fruit, prickly lixy, or prickly Alyxia, is a plant in the dogbane family Apocynaceae endemic to a small part of northeastern Queensland.
Ormosia ormondii, commonly known as yellow bean, is a tree in the legume family Fabaceae which is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Terminalia arenicola, commonly known as beach almond or brown damson, is a tree in the family Combretaceae which is endemic to Queensland in Australia.
Fagraea fagraeacea, commonly known as yellowheart or pink jitta, is a plant in the gentian family Gentianaceae which is native to New Guinea and Queensland.
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.
Diploglottis alaticarpa is a plant in the maple and lychee family Sapindaceae which is endemic to northeast Queensland, Australia. It was first recognised as a distinct species in 1994 and was formally described in 2014.
