Gmelina fasciculiflora

Gmelina fasciculiflora, known as the northern white beech is a species of trees endemic to the Queensland tropical rain forests, Australia, of the mint (Lamiaceae) plant family.[1][2][3] It is one of four recognised species of the genus Gmelina found in Australia.[4]

Gmelina fasciculiflora
Northern white beech
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Gmelina
Species:
G. fasciculiflora
Binomial name
Gmelina fasciculiflora

Taxonomy

Gmelina fasciculiflora was first described by English botanist George Bentham in his Flora Australiensis in 1870, from a collection by Dallachy.[1] Its species name is derived from Latin and means "flowers in clusters".[5]

Description

It shares characteristics with the more southerly white beech. Having pale twigs, similar shaped opposite leaves with a stem around 2 cm long. Leaves, however, are glossy and not nearly as hairy as the southern species. The leaves are 12 cm long and 7 wide. Flat glands may be seen at the base of the leaves as well as hairy domatia on the underside of the leaves. Purple spotted cream coloured flowers appear from February to May on large panicles. These attractive flowers are around 2 cm long.[6] They later form purple coloured fleshy fruit in the form of a flattened drupe, 1 to 2 cm in diameter, ripening from September to January. As with the white beech, the fruit has a strong scent, and the aril quickly turns brown when exposed to the air. Stains on clothing from the flesh of this fruit are difficult to remove.

Habitat and ecology

The natural habitat is both lowland and highland rainforests of northeastern Queensland.[5] The fruit are eaten by the wompoo fruit dove.[7]

Cultivation and uses

Gmelina fasciculiflora has grown and flowered well in cultivation in Brisbane, where it has been planted in public parks.[5] The timber is fairly soft for a hardwood and acidic. It is not resistant to termites. It is highly regarded for carving in Queensland.[8]

References
  1. "Gmelina fasciculiflora Benth". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 15 Mar 2013.
  2. Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (Dec 2010). "Factsheet – Gmelina fasciculiflora". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (6.1, online version RFK 6.1 ed.). Cairns, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through its Division of Plant Industry; the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research; the Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University. Retrieved 15 Mar 2013.
  3. Jackes, Betsy (14 Dec 2012). "Gmelina fasciculiflora (Northern White Beech)". Discover Nature at JCU. Plants on Cairns Campus. Cairns, Australia: James Cook University. Archived from the original (webpage) on 18 July 2012. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  4. "Gmelina%". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), Integrated Botanical Information System (IBIS) database (listing by % wildcard matching of all taxa relevant to Australia). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 26 Apr 2013.
  5. Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1986). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Volume 4 (Eu-Go). Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 373. ISBN 0-85091-589-9.
  6. David L. Jones, Rainforest Plants of Australia. page 222 ISBN 0-7301-0381-1
  7. Crome FHJ (1975). "The Ecology of Fruit Pigeons in Tropical Northern Queensland". Australian Wildlife Research. 2 (2): 155–85. doi:10.1071/WR9750155.
  8. Gary Hopewell (24 October 2007). "White beech". Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 2010-08-05.
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