Archidendron grandiflorum

Family

Mimosaceae

Botanical Name

Archidendron grandiflorum (Sol. ex Benth.) I.C.Nielsen

Nielsen, I.C. (1982) Nordic Journal Botany 2: 481. Type: ?.

Synonyms

Abarema grandiflora Benth.) Kosterm., Bulletin of the Organisation for Scientific Research in Indonesia No. 20: 34(1954), Type: ?. Pithecellobium grandiflorum Benth., Flora Australiensis 2: 424(1864), Type: Queensland. Endeavour river, Banks and Solander; holo: BM; iso: BRI, MEL, PERTH. Albizia tozeri (F.Muell.) F.Muell., Journal of Botany 10: 10(1872), Type: ?. Feuilleea tozeri Kuntze, Revisio Generum Plantarum 1: 187(1891), Type: ?. Pithecellobium tozeri F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 5: 10(1865), Type: Hastings R. [Port Macquarie, NSW], Tozer; holo:MEL. Fide Nielsen (1998).

Common name

Fairy Paint Brushes; Siris, Tulip; Snowwood; Tulip Siris; Tulip; Pink Laceflower; Laceflower Tree; Fairy Paintbrush; Marblewood

Stem

Usually a small tree but can flower and fruit as a shrub. Pale granular and dark fibrous stripes in the blaze.

Leaves

Rather large glands usually present on the upper surface of the secondary compound leaf axes at the base of each pair of leaflets. Similar glands present on the primary compound leaf axis (rhachis) where the secondary axes are attached. Glands also present on the upper surface of the compound leaf petiole. Leaflet blades about 3.1-8.6 x 1.5-4.4 cm. Leaflet stalks about 0.2-0.4 cm long. Terminal buds clothed in rusty brown hairs.

Flowers

Staminal filaments about 25-50 mm long, cream in the lower half but red, pink or mauve in the upper half.

Fruit

Fruits orange-red or orange on the inner surface. Seeds about 12-14 x 8-10 mm.

Seedlings

Cotyledons green but held at or below ground level. Cataphylls stipulate, usually produced before the first pair of true leaves. First pair of leaves compound with two leaflets, each leaflet with an elongated gland at the base near its junction with the leaflet stalk. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves compound, bipinnate, leaflets ovate, about 55-60 x 20-30 mm, apex acuminate with a short mucro, base cuneate or obtuse, midrib raised on the upper surface; leaflet stalks about 3-4 mm long; cup-shaped glands visible on the upper surface of the secondary leaf axes between pairs of leaflets. Stipules small, triangular and caducous, about 3-6 x 0.5 mm.

Distribution and Ecology

Occurs in CYP, NEQ and southwards as far as north-eastern New South Wales. Altitudinal range from sea level to 1100 m. Grows in rain forest on a variety of sites. Also occurs in New Guinea.

Natural History

An outstanding tree already in cultivation, known for its beautiful pink and white flowers. This species is one of the few native plants known to have been used as an aphrodisiac by the aborigines. Cribb (1981).

Seldom grows large enough to produce millable logs. Produces a decorative general purpose timber.