''Daphnandra melasmena'', commonly known as the socketwood, or black-leaved socketwood 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 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 ...

. It grows on the more fertile basaltic soils, often associated with the White Booyong. Found from near Bowraville, New South Wales in the south to the Tweed Valley further north. A small to medium-sized tree growing to 20 metres tall with a stem diameter of 30 cm. ''Daphnandra melasmena'' was first described by ornithologist Richard Schodde in 2000, having been known previously as ''Daphnandra'' sp. D. The specific epithet ''melasmena'' is derived from the Ancient Greek, referring to the leaves and stems turning black on drying.

References

Atherospermataceae Trees of Australia Flora of New South Wales {{Australia-plant-stub