| Yellow kamala | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Euphorbiaceae |
| Genus: | Mallotus |
| Species: | M. discolor |
| Binomial name | |
| Mallotus discolor (Benth.) | |
| Synonyms | |
Mallotus discolor is an Australian rainforest tree in the spurge family. It is known as the yellow kamala, due to the yellowish orange fruit covering, which produces a yellow dye.
It is a small to medium-sized tree, often around 12 metres (39 ft) tall. However, at Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature Reserve near Lismore, there is a 30-metre-tall (98 ft) yellow kamala with a 50-centimetre-broad (20 in) trunk. Another 30-metre-tall (98 ft) tree grows at Susan Island Nature Reserve; that individual has an 80-centimetre-broad (31 in) trunk. [1] The natural range of distribution is from just west of Coffs Harbour (30° S) in northern New South Wales to Bowen, Queensland (20° S).
The trunk is not buttressed. The bark on older trees may have some cracks and scales. Generally fairly smooth. Small branches are slender, green or brown with reddish hairy growth towards the end.
Leaves feature long stems, variable in length but usually between 4 and 10 cm. Leaves alternate on the stem, without leaf teeth, lanceolate or ovate in shape with a long tip. The leaves are fairly thin, 4 to 10 cm long. The underside is greyish, the upper surface green, almost hairless. Hence the species name discolor, meaning two colours.
Grey flowers form in November on racemes, 7 to 10 cm long. The fruit matures in January, being a moist capsule with a yellowish orange covering. The capsule is around 6 mm in diameter. The fruit is eaten by the green catbird, Lewin's honeyeater, grey-headed flying fox and others.
Regeneration from fresh seed is erratic, cuttings are an alternative method of regeneration.
Diploglottis campbellii is a rainforest tree northern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland. Growing to 30 metres tall, it is commonly known as the small-leaved tamarind. It is rare and threatened and is restricted to a small number of sites, each with a maximum of 3 trees per site. However, it is readily available from nurseries in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, and in south-eastern Queensland.
Daphnandra johnsonii, also known as the Illawarra socketwood, is a rare rainforest tree in the Illawarra district of eastern Australia.
Maytenus silvestris is a shrub or small tree growing from Picton, New South Wales near Kroombit Tops, near Gladstone, Queensland. It occurs in dry rainforest, eucalyptus and rainforest ecotone areas. Common names include narrow leaved orangebark, orange bush and orange bark.
Daphnandra apatela, the socketwood, light yellowwood or canary socketwood is a common rainforest tree in eastern Australia. It grows in the more fertile alluvial soils and basaltic soils. Distributed from the Watagan Mountains in New South Wales to Miriam Vale near Gladstone in Queensland.
Elattostachys nervosa, known as the green tamarind or beetroot tree is a common rainforest tree of eastern Australia. Found in all types of rainforest, growing from Paterson, New South Wales in the south to Gympie in south east Queensland. The name Elattostachys refers to "little spikes", a flower feature of other plants in this genus. Nervosa refers to the prominent leaf venation. Beetroot Tree refers to the beetroot red leaves of the new growth.
Harpullia pendula, known as the tulipwood or tulip lancewood is a small to medium-sized rainforest tree from Australia. The tree's small size, pleasant form and attractive fruit ensures the popularity of this ornamental tree. The range of natural distribution is from the Bellinger River in northern New South Wales to Coen in tropical Queensland. Tulipwood occurs in various types of rainforest, by streams or dry rainforests on basaltic or alluvial soils. In tropical and sub tropical rainforest. Often seen as a street tree, such as at St Ives, New South Wales.
Mallotus philippensis is a plant in the spurge family. It is known as the kamala tree or red kamala or kumkum tree, due to the fruit covering, which produces a red dye. However, it must be distinguished from kamala meaning "lotus" in many Indian languages, an unrelated plant, flower, and sometimes metonymic spiritual or artistic concept. Mallotus philippensis has many other local names. This kamala often appears in rainforest margins. Or in disturbed areas free from fire, in moderate to high rainfall areas.
Austrobuxus swainii is a rare rainforest tree in the Picrodendraceae family. It is endemic to north east New South Wales and south eastern Queensland, Australia. Occurring from the Bellinger River in the south to Tallebudgera Creek in the north. The common names are pink cherry or hairybark. The habitat is less fertile sedimentary based soils, often associated with the Coachwood, in high rainfall areas. Listed on ROTAP, as a threatened species, with a rating of 3RCa.
Bridelia exaltata, known as the brush ironbark or scrub ironbark, is a tree of eastern Australia. It occurs in and on the margins of the drier rainforests. Also occurring by streams, often in association with the Black Bean, up to an elevation of 600 metres above sea level. It occurs from Seal Rocks, New South Wales to Maryborough, Queensland.
Cyclophyllum longipetalum, known as the Coast Canthium is a shrub or tree occurring in eastern Australia. Commonly seen growing in a variety of different rainforest situations. From Lake Conjola in southern New South Wales to Fraser Island in south eastern Queensland.
Capparis arborea is a bush or small tree occurring in eastern Australia. The habitat is rainforest; usually riverine, littoral or the drier rainforests. Distributed from the Hunter River, New South Wales to Cape Melville in tropical Queensland. Common names include native pomegranate, wild lime, wild lemon and brush caper berry.
Cupaniopsis baileyana is a species of flowering tree in the soapberry family. It is native to eastern Australia. Common names include White Tamarind and Toothed Tuckeroo. The species name honours the botanist F.M.Bailey.
Endiandra hayesii is an Australian rainforest tree. Despite the common name of rusty rose walnut, this tree is unrelated to northern hemisphere walnuts, and is a laurel. The former habitat is lowland sub tropical rainforest, most of which has been cleared. However some trees persist in cool sheltered gullies as far south as the Richmond River, New South Wales to just over the border at Burleigh Heads in Queensland. The rusty rose walnut is considered rare, with a ROTAP rating of 3RC-. It is named after H.C. Hayes, who collected this species at Minyon Falls.
Dendrocnide photinophylla, the shining-leaved stinging tree, is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia. It occurs from near the Colo River northwest of Sydney to Cooktown in tropical Queensland. A versatile species, it occurs in many different rainforest types. The specific epithet photinophylla translates to shining leaf. The generic name translates to stinging tree.
Endiandra introrsa is a rare rainforest tree growing in eastern Australia. Listed with a Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (ROTAP) rating of 3RCa. Its habitat is warm temperate rainforest on the poorer rainforest soils, mostly over 300 metres in altitude, and its range of natural distribution is from near Dorrigo to various sites in the state of Queensland.
Cryptocarya nova-anglica, the mountain laurel, is a rainforest tree growing in eastern Australia. The habitat is a restricted distribution in cool temperate rainforest mostly over 1,100 metres (3,609 ft) in altitude. The range of natural distribution is from the upper Hastings River to near the border of the state of Queensland. It is an understorey tree, associated with the Antarctic beech, possumwood, golden sassafras and black olive berry trees.
Mallotus claoxyloides is an Australian rainforest plant in the spurge family. Common names include green kamala, odour bush, and smell of the bush. Opinions are divided on the strong scent of the plant. Some say it is offensive and resembles a skunk while most others find the scent aromatic and delightful. Because of the scent, it is grown in gardens.
Cupaniopsis newmanii is a rainforest plant in the soapberry family. It is native to eastern Australia. The common name is long-leaved tuckeroo. A rare plant, with a ROTAP listing of 2RC-. The habitat sub tropical rainforest ranging from Mullumbimby in New South Wales to Gympie in south-eastern Queensland.
Pittosporum lancifolium, known as the narrow-leaved orange thorn or sticky orange thorn, is a shrub or tree growing in eastern Australia. Often found at altitudes above 500 metres above sea level; from Mallanganee National Park in New South Wales in the south to Yarraman in south east Queensland in the north.
Quintinia verdonii, commonly known as the grey possumwood, is a tree of eastern Australia. It is mostly found in rainforests at high altitude. The range of natural distribution is between the Barrington Tops region of New South Wales and the Blackall Range in the state of Queensland.