''Cryptocarya triplinervis'' is a

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 growing in eastern

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 ...

. Common names include the three veined laurel, three veined cryptocarya and the brown laurel. ''Cryptocarya triplinervis'' var. ''triplinervis'' grows in

littoral The littoral zone or nearshore is the part of a sea, lake, or river that is close to the shore. In coastal ecology, the littoral zone includes the intertidal zone extending from the high water mark (which is rarely inundated), to coastal areas ...

s on sandy soils. Another variety var. ''pubens'' grows at higher altitude by streams, on volcanic or alluvial soil. The natural range of distribution is from

Smoky Cape Smoky Cape is a headland in Australia on the New South Wales Mid-North Coast. It lies just east of the town of South West Rocks, New South Wales, South West Rocks, and within the Hat Head National Park. Cape The cape was named ''Smoky Cape'' ...

(30° S), near

South West Rocks, New South Wales South West Rocks is a town located on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia, near the mouth of the Macleay River. It is approximately from Kempsey. Jerseyville is located nearby. The population of South West Rocks is 5,313 peo ...

to the

Daintree River The Daintree River is a river that rises in the Daintree Rainforest near Cape Tribulation in Far North Queensland, Australia. The river is located about northwest of Cairns in the UNESCO World Heritagelisted Wet Tropics of Queensland. The area ...

(16° S) in tropical

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_ ...

. It also occurs on

Lord Howe Island Lord Howe Island (; formerly Lord Howe's Island) is an irregularly crescent-shaped volcanic remnant in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, part of the Australian state of New South Wales. It lies directly east of mainland P ...

where it is known as blackbutt.

Description

''Cryptocarya triplinervis'' is a small tree, occasionally reaching 20 metres in height and with a trunk diameter of 60 cm. The bark is grey brown, mostly smooth with lines of vertical bumps running up the trunk. Leaves alternate, small and broad with a prominent tip. Dark glossy green above, paler and hairy below. Three veined with an easily seen mid vein, which is depressed on the upper side and raised on the lower side of the leaf. Net veins easily seen on the underside. Leaves long. Leaf stalks long. Pale green fragrant flowers form on short stemmed

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 September to December. Fruit ripens from February to May. Being a black

drupe In botany, a drupe (or stone fruit) is an indehiscent fruit in which an outer fleshy part (exocarp, or skin, and mesocarp, or flesh) surrounds a single shell (the ''pit'', ''stone'', or '' pyrena'') of hardened endocarp with a seed (''kernel'') ...

, across, with a single large seed inside. The fruit is somewhat longitudinally ribbed. Like most Australian

Cryptocarya ''Cryptocarya'' is a genus of evergreen trees belonging to the laurel family, Lauraceae. The genus includes more than 350 species, distributed through the Neotropical, Afrotropical, Indomalayan, and Australasian realms. Overview The genus inc ...

fruit, removal of the

aril An aril (pronounced ), also called an arillus, is a specialized outgrowth from a seed that partly or completely covers the seed. An arillode or false aril is sometimes distinguished: whereas an aril grows from the attachment point of the see ...

is advised to assist seed germination. Around 80% of the seeds will germinate, taking between three and six months. Plants generally take around 5 years to fruit in Brisbane Qld .

Taxonomy

The species was formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown. Three subspecies are currently recognised: * ''C. triplinervis'' var. ''pubens'' B.Hyland * ''C. triplinervis'' var. ''riparia'' B.Hyland * ''C. triplinervis'' R.Br. var. ''triplinervis''

Gallery

Image:Cryptocarya triplinervis fruit.jpg, Fruit Image:Cryptocarya triplinervis foliage.jpg, Foliage Image:Cryptocarya triplinervis.jpg Image:Cryptocarya triplinervis leaves.jpg, Leaf detail

References

* *

External links

* * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q5190851 Trees of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Flora of Lord Howe Island Laurales of Australia triplinervis Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)