Symplocos puberula
| Symplocos puberula | |
|---|---|
 | |
| in Eubenangee Swamp National Park | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Symplocaceae |
| Genus: | Symplocos |
| Species: | S. puberula |
| Binomial name | |
| Symplocos puberula | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
| |
Symplocos puberula is a species of plant in the family Symplocaceae native to northeastern Queensland, Australia, that was first described in 1982. It is a small rainforest tree and is rated as a least-concern species.
Description
Symplocos puberula is a tree up to 25 m (82 ft) tall with pubescent new growth (i.e. covered in fine soft hairs). The leaves are stiff, widest near the apex and tapered at the base (obovate), and they have a short "drip tip". They measure up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long and 6 cm (2.4 in) wide, and have 6–12 pairs of lateral veins which curve towards the leaf tip and connect to the next vein. The leaf edges are finely toothed in the distal half of the leaf blade.[4][5]
The inflorescence measures up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long and takes the form of a panicle or a raceme. The white flowers are small – the sepals are about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and the petals about 5 mm (0.2 in) long. They have 50 to 70 stamens measuring up to 6 mm (0.24 in) long, and the style is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. The fruit is a dark blue or black drupe with a persistent calyx at the tip. It measures about 10 mm (0.39 in) long and 6 mm (0.24 in) wide.[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
This species can be found from the McIlwraith Range near Cooktown, south along the east coast to the area around Eungella. It inhabits well developed rainforest on metamorphic and basalt soils.[4][5]
Taxonomy
It was first described as Symplocos cochinchinensis var. pilosiuscula by botanist Hans Peter Nooteboom in 1981, and published in the following year.[6] It was later raised to species status by Laurence Woodward Jessup, who disagreed with Nooteboom's treatment of the genus which created many subspecies and varieties. Jessup published his own treatment in the journal Austrobaileya in 2011.[5]
Conservation
This species is listed as least concern in the Queensland Government's WildNet database. No explanation is provided for the assessment.[1] As of August 2026, it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Gallery
Flowers, close-up
Foliage
Underside of leaves
Drip tip
Flowering
References
- 1 2 "Symplocos puberula". WildNet. Queensland Government. 2026. Retrieved 23 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Symplocos puberula". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- 1 2 "Symplocos puberula Jessup". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- 1 2 3 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Symplocos puberula". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 Jessup, L.W. (2011). "A taxonomic revision of Symplocos Jacq. (Symplocaceae) in Australia". Austrobaileya. 8 (3): 225–251. doi:10.5962/p.299806. JSTOR 41965583.
- ↑ Nooteboom, HP (1981). "A revision of the Australian species of Symplocos (Symplocaceae)". Brunonia. 4 (2): 309–326. doi:10.1071/BRU9810309.
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