Syzygium dansiei

Family

Myrtaceae

Botanical Name

Syzygium dansiei B.Hyland

Hyland, B.P.M. (1983) Australian Journal of Botany Supplementary Series 9: 75. Type: B. Hyland 3474 RFK: State Forest Reserve 144, 18.xi.1976; holo: QRS.

Common name

Lilly Pilly; Satinash, Windsor; Windsor Satinash

Stem

Bark generally reddish brown in colour, flakes often quite large, about 30 x 10 cm.

Leaves

Oil dots very numerous, variable in size, almost touching one another. Leaf blades about 4.7-5.8 x 1.5-2.6 cm. Midrib depressed on the upper surface. Leaf bearing twigs rather slender, about 1-2 mm diameter. Crushed leaves have a conspicuous odour resembling spice, eucalyptus oil or camphor.

Flowers

Bracts deciduous, absent at anthesis. Calyx tube (hypanthium) + pedicel about 4.5-6.5 mm long, calyx tube (hypanthium) about 3.5-5 mm diam., calyx lobes rounded, concave, dimorphic, inner lobes larger, about 1.5 mm long, horizontal at anthesis, disk elevated, higher than the calyx lobes at anthesis. Petals +/- orbicular, about 2-3 mm diam., oil dots conspicuous, about 50-100 per petal, spread over most of petal except the margin. Outer staminal filaments about 5-6 mm long, anthers about 0.6 x 0.5 mm, gland terminal, near the back of the anther. Ovules about 8-12 per locule, placentas central, ovules radiating, ascending. Style about 6-7 mm long, approximating the stamens.

Fruit

Fruits depressed globular, attaining about 25-30 mm diam., calyx lobes persistent, about 1-2 mm long. Seed solitary, attaining about 15-20 mm diam., testa adhering slightly to the succulent pericarp and slightly adherent to or free from the rugose or smooth surface of the uniformly textured cotyledons. Radicle basal, cotyledonary stipules present.

Seedlings

Cataphylls about 3 or 4 pairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic or ovate-elliptic, apex acuminate, base cuneate or attenuate, glabrous; oil dots small, sparse, visible only with a lens.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the Windsor Tableland and Mt Spurgeon areas. Altitudinal range from 950-1200 m. Grows in well developed mountain rain forest on soils derived from granite.

Natural History

Although a large tree in nature, cultivated specimens form dense shady trees suitable for parks or street plantings. Fruits are purple.