Scented daphne | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Malvales |
Family: | Thymelaeaceae |
Genus: | Phaleria |
Species: | P. clerodendron |
Binomial name | |
Phaleria clerodendron | |
Synonyms [2] [3] [4] | |
Drimyspermum clerodendronF.Muell. |
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. [2]
The scented daphne grows as a large shrub or small tree, usually around 3.5 m (11 ft) in height but may be up to 10 m (33 ft). [2] [5] It is often multi-stemmed and may be buttressed. [6] [7] The glabrous (glossy) dark green leaves are simple, measure 9–20 cm (3.5–7.9 in) long by 4–7.5 cm (1.6–3.0 in) wide, and are attached to the twig with a petiole around 1 cm (0.39 in) long. [2] [5]
Flowering occurs from October to April and the inflorescences mostly arise from the branches (ramiflorous), or from the trunk (cauliflorous), but may also arise in the leaf axils. [6] [7] The fragrant, clustered, white flowers have a very long corolla tube up to 40 mm (1.6 in) long, much longer than the petals. [2] [5] They are followed by globose, fleshy, red fruits which are a drupe, and they ripen between December and July. [6]
Ferdinand von Mueller initially described the species in 1869 as Drimyspermum clerodendron in his work Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae (vol.7), from material collected by John Dallachy at Rockingham Bay. [8] In 1873 George Bentham published another description in Flora Australiensis (vol.6), in which it was given the current binomial combination. [9]
The genus name Phaleria comes from the Ancient Greek φάλαρος (phálāros) meaning "having a white spot"; the species epithet clerodendron refers to a resemblance to the genus Clerodendrum . [10]
P. clerodendron is endemic to north-eastern Queensland, with recorded occurrences from near Cooktown in the north to Cardwell in the south. It grows in well developed rainforest at altitudes ranging from sea level up to about 900 m (3,000 ft), thus it is found in almost all parts of—and entirely contained within—the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area, with the exception of the highest peaks and the most southern section. [2] [5]
Fruits of the scented daphne are eaten by cassowaries. [2] [6]
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern. [1] As of 3 July 2021 [update] , it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
The species is regarded as an attractive garden ornamental due to its dark green foliage, the spectacular and pleasantly-scented flower clusters, and the colourful fruit. It may be grown with the correct care as far south as Sydney. [2] [7] [11] [12]
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.
Archontophoenix alexandrae, commonly known as Alexandra palm, king palm, northern Bangalow palm, or feather palm, is a palm endemic to Queensland, Australia. It was named in honour of Princess Alexandra of Denmark, but is often erroneously referred to by the misnomer Alexander palm.
Canarium australianum, commonly known as scrub turpentine, is a species of tree in the family Burseraceae native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Other common names include mango bark, carrot wood, parsnip wood, Melville Island white beech and brown cudgerie.
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.
Atractocarpus chartaceus, commonly known as the narrow-leaved gardenia, is a species of evergreen flowering plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae. It is found in subtropical rainforest of eastern Queensland, Australia, and it is cultivated for its fragrant flowers and colourful fruit.
Pentaceras australe, commonly known as bastard crow's ash, penta ash or black teak, is the only species in the genus Pentaceras in the plant family Rutaceae. It is a small to medium-sized rainforest tree endemic to eastern Australia. It has pinnate leaves with up to fifteen leaflets, small white flowers arranged in panicles on the ends of branchlets, and winged seeds.
Cordyline manners-suttoniae, commonly known as the giant palm lily, is an evergreen plant found only in rainforest of northeastern Queensland, Australia.
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.
Carnarvonia araliifolia, commonly known as the red oak, red silky oak, Caledonian oak or elephant's foot, is the sole species in the monotypic genus Carnarvonia, a member of the Proteaceae plant family. It is endemic to the rainforests of northeastern Queensland.
Syzygium forte, commonly known as flaky-barked satinash, white apple or brown satinash, is a tree in the family Myrtaceae native to New Guinea and northern Australia.
Palmeria scandens, commonly known as anchor vine or pomegranate vine, is a species of flowering plant in the family Monimiaceae and is native to Queensland, New South Wales and New Guinea. It is a woody vine with elliptic to oblong leaves and male and female flowers borne on separate plants, male flowers usually with thirty to forty stamens and female flowers with about ten carpels. The fruit is green, splitting to form a pinkish receptacle with 3 to 7 black or red drupes.
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.
Atractocarpus hirtus, commonly known as the hairy gardenia or native loquat, is a plant in the coffee family Rubiaceae, a large family of some 6,500 species with a cosmopolitan distribution. This species is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia.
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.
Archidendron vaillantii, commonly known as the salmon bean, is an evergreen tree in the legume family Fabaceae. It is endemic to the rainforests of northeast Queensland.
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.
Diploglottis diphyllostegia, commonly known as the northern tamarind, native tamarind or wild tamarind, is a tree in the lychee family Sapindaceae which is endemic to Queensland, Australia. It is an attractive tree with potential in cultivation, with a dense crown of dark green leaves and masses of fruit in spring and summer.
Gillbeea adenopetala, commonly known as Pink alder, is an evergreen tree in the largely southern hemisphere family Cunoniaceae. It was first described in 1865 and is endemic to a small part of Queensland, Australia.
Buchanania mangoides, commonly known as plum tree, is a plant in the mango and cashew family Anacardiaceae native to Queensland, Australia. It was first described in 1869.
Cupaniopsis foveolata, commonly known as narrow-leaved tuckeroo, white tamarind or toothed tuckeroo, is a plant in the maple and lychee family Sapindaceae found in eastern Queensland and New South Wales, Australia.