''Anopterus macleayanus'', commonly known as Queensland laurel or Macleay laurel, is a shrub or small tree in the family

Escalloniaceae Escalloniaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 130 species in seven genera. In the APG II system it is one of eight families in the euasterids II clade (campanulids) that are unplaced as to order. More recent research has prov ...

. It is native to

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

and

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. The species was formally described in 1859 by botanist

Ferdinand von Mueller Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (german: Müller; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Vict ...

, having been collected from the summit of Mt Lindesay. It was named in honour of Sir William Macleay. It is one of two species that belong to the genus ''

Anopterus ''Anopterus'' is a genus of two species of shrubs or small trees. Species * ''Anopterus glandulosus'' (Tasmanian laurel) - western Tasmania * ''Anopterus macleayanus'' (Mountain laurel) - eastern Australia References

Escalloniaceae A ...

''. ''Anopterus macleayanus'' can grow up to 15 metres (50 ft) high and has oblanceolate (spear-shaped) leaves that are and with blunt serrated margins. The juvenile leaves may be considerably larger. The petioles and leaf bases are red-tinged. The white flowers occur in

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

s between October and December (mid spring to early summer) in its native range. ''Anopterus macleayanus'' is a plant of warm-temperate and subtropical rainforest from the

Comboyne Plateau Comboyne is a village on the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales. It is situated on the Comboyne Plateau, some 60 km south-west of Port Macquarie, 35 km west of Kew and 54 km north-west of Taree. It is an attractive agricultu ...

in New South Wales northwards into Queensland. The thrips species ''

Thrips setipennis Thrips (order Thysanoptera) are minute (mostly long or less), slender insects with fringed wings and unique asymmetrical mouthparts. Different thrips species feed mostly on plants by puncturing and sucking up the contents, although a few are ...

'' was recovered from the flowers of ''Anopterus macleayanus'', suggesting it may be a pollinator. Its long leaves with wavy margins and red-pink highlights give it horticultural potential. ''Anopterus macleayanus'' grows best in part-shaded positions in well-drained soil in the garden, with added water during the summer. As a rainforest floor plant, it requires a sheltered position when becoming established in the garden. It is resilient but can be slow-growing. It can be grown in containers, even as an indoor plant.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2852323 Asterids of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Trees of Australia Escalloniaceae