''Lysiphyllum hookeri'' is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of small tree endemic to
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, of the
legume
A legume () is a plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae), or the fruit or seed of such a plant. When used as a dry grain, the seed is also called a pulse. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, for livestock f ...
plant family
. These trees are known by a variety of common names, including pegunny, alibangbang, Hooker's bauhinia, white bauhinia, mountain ebony and Queensland ebony.
[
]
Taxonomy
It, along with the rest of the genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Lysiphyllum
''Lysiphyllum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, subfamily Cercidoideae and tribe Bauhinieae. It belongs to the subfamily Cercidoideae. It was formerly treated as part of the genus ''Bauhinia'', but recent molecular phyloge ...
'' was formerly treated as part of the genus ''Bauhinia
''Bauhinia'' () is a large genus of flowering plants in the subfamily Cercidoideae and tribe Bauhinieae, in the large flowering plant family Fabaceae, with a pantropical distribution. The genus was named after the Bauhin brothers Gaspard and Jo ...
''.[ However, recent molecular phylogenetic analysis confirms that ''Lysiphyllum'' is a distinct genus from ''Bauhinia''.][
]
Range and habitat
These trees grow naturally in monsoon forest
Seasonal tropical forest, also known as moist deciduous, semi-evergreen seasonal, tropical mixed or monsoon forests, typically contain a range of tree species: only some of which drop some or all of their leaves during the dry season. This tropic ...
, 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 ...
rainforest and occasionally in more open forest types in north-eastern Australia.[
]
Description
As with most members of the genus, this species produces compound leaves with only a single pair of leaflets, producing a bi-lobed leaf that resembles the wings of a butterfly. Showy white flowers are produced throughout the year dependent on rainfall, and are accented by long red stamens. They also have a lovely delicate scent. The flowers are followed by flat pods containing multiple seeds.
Image:Lysiphyllum hookeri, blare, Manie van der Schijff BT, a.jpg,
Image:Lysiphyllum hookeri flowers and foliage.jpg,
References
Cercidoideae
Flora of Queensland
Drought-tolerant trees
Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller
{{Fabaceae-stub