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Leaves and fruit. Copyright CSIRO

Leaves and male flowers. Copyright B. Gray

Anther, 4 locules, 3 valves present 1 absent. Copyright CSIRO

Group of male flowers. Copyright CSIRO

10th leaf stage. Copyright CSIRO

Cotyledon stage, hypogeal germination. Copyright CSIRO

Neolitsea brassii

Family

Lauraceae

Botanical Name

Neolitsea brassii C.K.Allen

Allen, C.K. (1942) Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 23: 118. Type: British New Guinea: Western Division, Tarara, Wassi Kussa River, Brass 8704, Jan. 1937; holo: A.

Synonyms

Litsea zeylanica Nees & T.Nees, De Cinnamomo disputatio: 58(1823), Type: Zeylonia insula (Herb. Royeni.).

Common name

Grey Bollywood; Bollywood, Grey; Bollywood

Stem

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Blaze odour difficult to describe, usually obvious, sometimes pleasantly scented.

Leaves

Twigs usually +/- terete, sometimes slightly fluted, clothed in straight, white, appressed hairs when very young, soon becoming almost completely glabrous. Leaf blades about 6.5-15.5 x 2.5-7.1 cm, usually slightly glaucous on the underside, sometimes green, clothed in straight, white, appressed hairs when young, soon becoming almost completely glabrous. Midrib raised or flush with the upper surface. Petioles channelled on the upper surface. Oil dots visible with a lens.

Flowers

Inflorescence bracts present at anthesis. Male flowers: Tepals about 2.3-3.4 mm long, usually without a pistillode. Stamens usually six (sometimes 5-8). Female flowers: Tepals about 2.4-2.8 mm long. Glands attached to the middle of the inner staminodes. Ovary glabrous.

Fruit

Fruits globular, sometimes ellipsoid, about 9-12 x 7.5-10.5 mm. Receptacle about 7.5-9.5 x 4.5-5.5 mm. Seed about 6-9.5 x 5-8 mm. Cotyledons cream.

Seedlings

First pair of leaves ovate to lanceolate, about 30-53 x 13-24 mm, glaucous to white on the underside. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves elliptic to ovate, apex acuminate, glabrous on the upper surface, glaucous on the underside; leaves alternate or in whorls of three; oil dots small, visible only with a lens; petiole and terminal bud glabrous.

Distribution and Ecology

Occurs in NT, CYP, NEQ and southwards to coastal central and south-eastern Queensland. Altitudinal range from sea level to 900 m. Grows in rain forest, monsoon forest and wet sclerophyll forest on a variety of sites. Also occurs in New Guinea.

Natural History

This species seldom grows large enough to produce millable logs. Wood specific gravity 0.76-0.81. Hyland (1989).