Cryptocarya leucophylla

Family

Lauraceae

Botanical Name

Cryptocarya leucophylla B.Hyland

Hyland, B.P.M. (1989) Australian Systematic Botany 2: 192. Type: B. Gray 3919: Stata Forest Reserve 194 East Barron, Hugh Nelson Range, 21.ii.1985 (QRS, holotypus).

Synonyms

Cryptocarya hypoglauca Meisn., Prodromus 15(1): 73(1864), Type: In Novae Holl. ora boreali-occid. (A. Cunn.?). Cryptocarya hypoglauca Meisn. var. hypoglauca, Prodromus 15(1): 508(1864), Type: ?.

Stem

A thin cream or pale brown layer generally visible beneath the subrhytidome layer before the first section of the outer blaze.

Leaves

Twigs fluted, clothed in straight, pale brown, appressed hairs when young but eventually becoming almost glabrous. Leaf blades about 6.8-13.3 x 3-5 cm, glaucous or almost white on the underside, clothed in straight, pale brown, appressed hairs which, although not obvious, persist even on old leaves. Midrib depressed on the upper surface. Petiole flat or channelled on the upper surface. Oil dots visible with a lens.

Flowers

Inflorescence paniculate, not or only slightly exceeding the leaves. Flowers unpleasantly perfumed. Lower half of the perianth tube pubescent on the inner surface. Tepals about 1.4-2.1 mm long, pubescent on the outer surface. Ovary glabrous or sparsely hairy, style glabrous or pubescent towards the base.

Fruit

Fruits ellipsoid or globular, about 13-18 x 12-13 mm. Cotyledons yellow.

Seedlings

First pair of leaves ovate, about 45-56 x 16-31 mm, glaucous on the underside. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade glaucous on the underside; a few scattered pale hairs on the petiole; oil dots small, visible with a lens.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1300 m. Usually grows in well developed upland and mountain rain forest, sometimes in lowland rain forest.

Natural History

This species does not grow large enough to produce millable logs. Wood specific gravity 1.1 Hyland (1989).

NEQ

X

Tree

X

RFK Code

319