''Austrobuxus swainii'' is a rare

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

tree in the

Picrodendraceae Picrodendraceae is a family of flowering plants, consisting of 80 species in 24 genera.Stephens, P.F. (2001 onwards). Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Version 9, June 2008. http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/ These are subtropical to tropical ...

family. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to north east

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 ...

and south eastern

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_ ...

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 ...

. Occurring from the

Bellinger River Bellinger River, an open and trained mature wave dominated, barrier estuary, is located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Course and features Bellinger River rises below Point Lookout within the Great Dividing Ra ...

in the south to

Tallebudgera Creek The Tallebudgera Creek is a creek located in South East Queensland, Australia. Its catchment lies within the Gold Coast local government area and covers an area of . The river is approximately in length and is known for good fishing. Course ...

in the north. The common names are pink cherry or hairybark. The habitat is less fertile sedimentary based soils, often associated with the Coachwood, in high rainfall areas. Listed on ROTAP, as a threatened species, with a rating of ''3RCa''.

Description

A medium to large tree, 40 metres tall and a trunk diameter of one metre. The trunk is not cylindrical, flanged or irregular, somewhat buttressed at the base. Bark is scaly, grey or brown. Bark sheds in irregular patches, leaving slight depressions. Small branches are slender, grey or fawn in colour. Dotted with many pale

lenticel A lenticel is a porous tissue consisting of cells with large intercellular spaces in the periderm of the secondarily thickened organs and the bark of woody stems and roots of dicotyledonous flowering plants. It functions as a pore, providing a ...

s. Leaves 7 to 14 cm long, 2 to 4 cm wide.

Lanceolate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...

in shape, opposite on the stem with around 40 small teeth on the leaf edges. Leaf stalks up to 10 mm long. Old red leaves can be seen in the canopy.

Flowers & fruit

Yellow or green flowers form on

panicle A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are of ...

s from April to June. Tiny flowers 4 petalled. The panicle is around 25 mm long, forming from the forks of the leaves. The fruit is a dark brown or black capsule, around 13 mm long, with two protruding styles at the fruit's apex. The capsule splits into four parts with two glossy brown seeds, 6 mm long. Fruit mature from February to March. Fresh seed or cuttings are advised for regeneration.

References

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q4825585 Vulnerable biota of Queensland Vulnerable flora of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Trees of Australia Picrodendraceae