Citronella smythii
| Citronella smythii | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Inflorescence | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Aquifoliales |
| Family: | Cardiopteridaceae |
| Genus: | Citronella |
| Species: | C. smythii |
| Binomial name | |
| Citronella smythii | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Citronella smythii, commonly known as northern silky beech, is a species of plant in the family Cardiopteridaceae. It is native to northeast Queensland, Australia, and has a conservation status of least concern.
Description
This is a tree up to 25 m (82 ft) tall with a fluted trunk and corky fissured bark. The leaves can grow to 17 cm (6.7 in) long and 9 cm (3.5 in) wide, and they are ovate to elliptic in shape. Flowers are clustered on a raceme up to 10 cm (3.9 in) long, and they usually have five petals about 5 mm (0.2 in) long. The fruit is an ellipsoidal drupe up to 16 mm (0.63 in) long and 12 mm (0.47 in) wide, containing a single seed.[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
It is found in northeast Queensland from the Paluma Range National Park to Cape Tribulation. There is also a second population between about Coen and Lockhart River on Cape York Peninsula. It grows in rainforest at altitudes from sea level to about 1,200 m (3,900 ft).[4][5]
Conservation status
As of June 2026, this species has been assessed to be of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and by the Queensland Government under its Nature Conservation Act.[1][6]
References
- 1 2 IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2021). "Citronella smythii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021 e.T192206157A192233607. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T192206157A192233607.en.
- ↑ "Citronella smythii (F.Muell.) R.A.Howard". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Citronella smythii (F.Muell.) R.A.Howard". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- 1 2 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Citronella smythii (F.Muell.) R.A.Howard". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- 1 2 Guymer, G.P. (2022). "Citronella smythii (F.Muell.) R.A.Howard". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
- ↑ "Taxon - Citronella smythii". WildNet. Queensland Government. 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
External links
- Map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- Observations of this species on iNaturalist
- Images of this species on Flickriver.com