''Endiandra compressa'', the white bark, 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 ...

. The habitat is rainforest growing near streams in valleys. The range of natural distribution is from the

Nambucca River The Nambucca River is a river located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Course and features Nambucca River rises below Killiekrankie Mountain on the Dorrigo Plateau, part of the Great Dividing Range, and flows general ...

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 ...

to Kutini-Payamu National Park, 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 , established_ ...

Description

A tree reaching 30 metres tall and a trunk diameter of 75 cm. The base of the tree may be buttressed in larger trees. The bark is pale, light grey or almost white. Small branches are smooth, and green at the ends. Leaves are simple and alternate,

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, 8 to 18 cm long. 3 to 5 cm wide. Glossy green above and below. Leaf veins are evident above and below the leaf. Creamy or yellow flowers form on short

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 leaf

axil A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...

s in the months of November to December. Sometimes flowers form from the branchlets above the leaf scars. Fruit matures in January being a large fleshy

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'') ...

, 3 to 5 cm in diameter. Black or bluish black in colour. The fruit is mostly round, but laterally flattened (or compressed). Hence the species name ''compressa''. Inside is a single large seed. Removal of the flesh should be undertaken before planting the seed.

Ecology

The butterfly, '' Chaetocneme porphyropis'' feeds on the leaves of this tree.

References

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q5376108 Trees of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Laurales of Australia compressa