Atractocarpus Chartaceus

''Atractocarpus chartaceus'', commonly known as the narrow-leaved gardenia, is a species of evergreen flowering plant in the madder and coffee family Rubiaceae. It is mostly found in subtropical rainforest of eastern Australia, and it is cultivated for its fragrant flowers and colourful fruit.

Description

''Atractocarpus chartaceus '' is an understory shrub or small tree growing up to in height under ideal conditions, with a stem diameter up to . The trunk is crooked and asymmetrical at the base. The bark is brownish grey, and relatively smooth with some wrinkles or horizontal cracks. The tips of the branchlets have fawn hairs.

The leaves are dark green and glabrous on the upper surface, and dull grey-green below. They may be opposite and decussate, or arranged in whorls or 3 or 4. The juvenile leaves are very long and narrow, measuring up to , while the mature leaves are broadly oblanceolate, measuring up to . They have 8-11 pairs of secondary veins (i.e. the veins that branch off from the midrib) which are quite prominent on both surfaces. The leaves are often marked by the trail of a leaf miner.

This species is dioecious, meaning that functionally female and functionally male flowers are borne on separate plants. The inflorescences are either terminal or axillary and include one, two or three flowers. The individual flowers are actinomorphic and either 5 or 6 merous (i.e. with 5 or 6 petals and sepals), and quite fragrant. Flowering occurs from August to October.

The fruits are a berry in botanical terms, measuring long and in diameter. They are orange or red, finely hairy and the remains of the calyx tube is attached at the distal end. Fruits contain a sweet edible pulp with several seeds embedded in it. They ripen from April to August.

Taxonomy

The German naturalist and Government Botanist for Victoria, Ferdinand von Mueller, originally described this species in 1860 as ''Gardenia chartacea'', publishing it in his work ''Essay on the plants collected by Mr Eugene Fitzalan during Lieut. Smith's Expedition to the Estuary of the Burdekin''. In 1875 he revised the name in his monumental work '' Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae'', transferring it to a new genus with the combination ''Randia chartacea''. More than one hundred years later, in 1999, it was revised by botanists Christopher Francis Puttock and Christopher John Quinn who placed the species in its current genus ''Atractocarpus''.

Etymology

The genus name ''Atractocarpus'' is created from the Ancient Greek ''atractos'' (spindle) and ''karpos'' (fruit). It refers to the shape of the fruit of the type species, ''Atractocarpus bracteatus''. The species epithet ''chartaceus'' is derived from the Latin word ''charta'' (paper), which is a reference to the thin papery leaves.

Distribution and habitat

The natural range of the narrow-leaved gardenia is coastal subtropical forests of eastern Australia, from the Richmond River, New South Wales (about 29°S) to Gladstone, Queensland (about 23°S). There is also a small, very disjunct population in Eungella National Park west of Mackay, Queensland (about 21°S), some to the north. Puttock surmises that the disjunction is a result of a lack of observations/collections, rather than the plant being absent from the area.

It is usually found on basaltic and alluvial soils where the annual rainfall is between .

Ecology

''Atractocarpus chartaceus'' has been identified as a host plant for the leaf mining larvae of the genus Gracillariidae.

Conservation

This species is listed by both the IUCN and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern.

Cultivation

''Atractocarpus chartaceus'' has been in cultivation in Australia for some years. It is an attractive garden ornamental with its glossy foliage, scented flowers and colourful fruit, and the flowers attract a numerous birds and insects to the garden. It prefers a shady position and good drainage.. It can be propagated from fresh seed, which may take a few months but is usually successful, or from cuttings of the current season's growth.

Gallery

Image: Atractocarpus chartaceus 02.jpg , Growing in Wollongong Botanic Gardens, Sept 2020
Image: Atractocarpus chartaceus 159805448.jpg , Flowers and leaves, northern NSW, Sept 2021
Image: Atractocarpus chartaceus 192806378 cropped.jpg , Fruit, seen at Natural Bridge, Queensland Apr 2022
Image: Atractocarpus chartaceus 1.jpg , Developing fruit, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, Jan 2013
Image: Atractocarpus chartaceus 102710623.jpg , Leaf-miner damage


Image: Atractocarpus chartaceus 115168819.jpg , Leaf in profile
Image: Atractocarpus chartaceus 159805363.jpg , Underside of leaf
Image: Atractocarpus chartaceus juvenile.jpg , Juvenile foliage

References

External links

*
*

View a map
of recorded sightings of ''Atractocarpus chartaceus'' at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium

See images
of ''Atractocarpus chartaceus'' on Flickriver

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4817484

chartaceus
Gentianales of Australia
Flora of New South Wales
Flora of Queensland
Trees of Australia
Ornamental trees
Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller
Taxa named by Christopher Francis Puttock