| Lacewood | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Sterculia |
| Species: | S. shillinglawii |
| Binomial name | |
| Sterculia shillinglawii | |
Sterculia shillinglawii, commonly known as tulip sterculia or lacewood, is a tree in the family Malvaceae which is native to Papuasia and northeastern Australia.
Sterculia shillinglawii is a rainforest tree growing up to 30 m (98 ft) high with a trunk diameter of up to 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) — the trunk is straight and may or may not have buttresses. [5] [6] The simple leaves are a dull mid green above, lighter green or brown with a dense covering of fine hairs below. [5] [6] [7] They have entire margins (i.e. without teeth or lobes) and about 10 lateral veins either side of the midrib. [5] [7] They measure about 15 cm (5.9 in) long by 8.5 cm (3.3 in) wide and are carried on a long petiole about 3 cm (1.2 in) long. [6] [7]
The inflorescence is a panicle produced in the leaf axils or on the twigs below the leaves, and may be up to 20 cm (7.9 in) long. [6] [7] The individual flowers are without petals but have five sepals, and are about 10 mm (0.39 in) wide and long. [5] [6] [7] They are white, cream, or pale yellow in colour. [5] [6]
The fruit is a yellow, orange, or (most commonly) bright red follicle up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long by 2 cm (0.79 in) wide which is covered in a fine, dense indumentum. [5] [6] [7] At maturity it splits along the length to reveal the pale coloured interior containing up to eight dark green to black seeds measuring up to 16 mm (0.63 in) long and 10 mm (0.39 in) wide. [5] [6] [7]
This species was first described in 1887 by the German born Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller, based on material collected by R. Parkinson in New Britain. His paper, titled "Two species of Sterculia, discovered by R. Parkinson, Esq., in New Britain" was initially published in The Australasian Journal of Pharmacy and later published again in the German language journal Botanisches Centralblatt. [3] [8]
Mueller named this species after Harry Shillinglaw, the editor of The Australasian Journal of Pharmacy. He notes in his paper "I have dedicated this evidently rare tree to Harry Shillinglaw, Esq., the zealous Editor of this periodical, and the accomplished Secretary of the Victorian Board of Pharmacy". [8]
The tulip sterculia is native to Cape York Peninsula in Australia, New Guinea (including the Bismarck Archipelago), the most western part of the Solomon Islands , and North Maluku. [9] It grows in rainforest, monsoon forest and gallery forest, at altitudes from sea level to 300 m (980 ft). [6] [7]
The tulip sterculia is harvested for timber in Papua New Guinea, and has been recommended as a street tree in New South Wales. [10] In the city of Cairns, Queensland, it has been planted in streets and parks. [11]
Agathis robusta, commonly known as Dundathu pine, kauri pine, Queensland kauri (pine), Australian kauri (pine) or smooth-barked kauri, is a coniferous tree in the family Araucariaceae. Although sometimes called a pine it is not a true pine, having leaves rather than needles. It has a disjunct distribution, occurring in Papua New Guinea and Queensland, Australia. Populations in Papua New Guinea may be treated as the distinct species Agathis spathulata.
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.
Pleiogynium timoriense, commonly known as the Burdekin plum, sweet plum, tulip plum, or in the Djabugay language guybalum, is a medium-sized fruit-bearing tree in the cashew and mango family Anacardiaceae native to Malesia, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
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.
Hymenosporum is a monotypic genus in the family Pittosporaceae. The sole included species is Hymenosporum flavum, commonly known as native frangipani, which is a rainforest tree native to New Guinea, Queensland and New South Wales. Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the frangipani, but is related to the widespread genus Pittosporum.
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.
Semecarpus australiensis, commonly known as the tar tree, native cashew, marking nut, or cedar plum, is a species of tree in the cashew, sumac and mango family Anacardiaceae, native to parts of Melanesia and northern Australia. Contact with the plant can cause serious allergic reactions, a common characteristic of this family.
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.
Dysoxylum pettigrewianum, 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.
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.
Palaquium galactoxylum, commonly known as Cairns pencil cedar, Daintree maple or red silkwood, is a species of very large tree in the family Sapotaceae which is endemic to rainforests of New Guinea and northern Australia. It can produce spectacularly large buttress roots.
Hydriastele wendlandiana, commonly known as Wendland's palm, cat o' nine tails, creek palm or kentia palm, is a tall, multi-stemmed tree in the palm family Arecaceae. It is native to New Guinea and the Australian states of Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Hypserpa laurina is a slender twining climber in the plant family Menispermaceae. It is native to New Guinea and north eastern Queensland in 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.
Alstonia muelleriana is a tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae which is native to southern Papua New Guinea and northeastern Queensland.
Ormosia ormondii, commonly known as yellow bean, is a tree in the legume family Fabaceae which is endemic to 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.
Pandanus solms-laubachii, commonly known as the swamp pandan, is a small tree in the family Pandanaceae which occurs in northeastern Queensland and possibly in Papua New Guinea. It is closely related to both Pandanus gemmifer and Pandanus grayorum.
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.
Data related to Sterculia shillinglawii at Wikispecies
Media related to Sterculia shillinglawii at Wikimedia Commons