''Argyrodendron'' is a genus of mainly
tree
In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...
s in the family
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include okra, cotton, cacao and durian. There are also some genera containing familiar ...
. They occur in
Malesia
Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom. It has been given different definitions. Th ...
,
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, the island is separated from Australia by the wide Torr ...
and
Australia. In Australia, they are a well-known rainforest species known by their
Indigenous Australian
Indigenous Australians or Australian First Nations are people with familial heritage from, and membership in, the ethnic groups that lived in Australia before British colonisation. They consist of two distinct groups: the Aboriginal peoples ...
name, booyong or the tulip oak.
''Argyrodendron'' has often been treated as a synonym of ''
Heritiera
''Heritiera'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, subfamily Sterculioideae. They are most dominant tropical forest trees in several areas in eastern Africa and India to the Pacific. Some are mangroves. Several are valuable for ...
'', but a recent molecular study shows it to be distinct therefrom.
[Wilkie et al. ''Phylogenetic Relationships within the Subfamily Sterculioideae (Malvaceae/Sterculiaceae-Sterculieae) Using the Chloroplast Gene ndhF.'' Syst. Bot. 31(1): 160-170 (2006).]
In their native habitat, they can grow tall, 40–60 metres, but rarely reach this in cultivation. The bases of large trees are usually prominently buttressed. Leaves with white or silver on underside. ''
Argyrodendron actinophyllum
''Argyrodendron actinophyllum'' is a large rainforest tree, native to eastern Australia. Common names include black booyong, blackjack, blush tulip oak, crowsfoot elm and Mackay tulip oak. The heartwood is coloured pink-brown. One of the most ...
'' and ''
Argyrodendron trifoliolatum'' occur in scrubs and rainforests along the east coast of
Australia, but ''
Argyrodendron peralatum'' has a restricted distribution in north
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
, establishe ...
between
Tully and
Cooktown
Cooktown is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. Cooktown is at the mouth of the Endeavour River, on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, for repai ...
. The grain is usually straight and open, sometimes interlocked or wavy and irregular producing some beautifully figured wood. Attractive figure on tangential face and large ray fleck on radial face are prominent features of ''Argyrodendron'' wood.
Image:Argyrodendron actinophyllum and Argyrodendron trifoliolatum - Toonumbar National Park.jpg, '' A. actinophyllum'' (Black Booyong) and '' A. trifoliolatum'' (White Booyong) - Toonumbar National Park, 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
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4789964
Sterculioideae
Malvaceae genera