''Mallotus claoxyloides'' is an

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

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 ...

plant in the spurge family. Common names include green kamala, odour bush, and smell of the bush. Opinions are divided on the strong scent of the plant. Some say it is offensive and resembles a

skunk Skunks are mammals in the family Mephitidae. They are known for their ability to spray a liquid with a strong, unpleasant scent from their anal glands. Different species of skunk vary in appearance from black-and-white to brown, cream or ginge ...

while most others find the scent aromatic and delightful. Because of the scent, it is grown in gardens. The specific epithet refers to the similarity of the foliage to

Claoxylon ''Claoxylon'' is a flowering plant genus in the spurge family, Euphorbiaceae, comprising dioecious subshrubs to small trees. It was first described as a genus in 1824. The genus is distributed in paleotropical areas: Madagascar through South and ...

. The natural range of distribution is from the

Richmond River, New South Wales The Richmond River is a river situated in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia. Course and features The river rises at the northern end of the Richmond Range, near its junction with the McPherson Range, on the Queensla ...

Torres Strait The Torres Strait (), also known as Zenadh Kes, is a strait between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea. It is wide at its narrowest extent. To the south is Cape York Peninsula, the northernmost extremity of the Australian mai ...

in the north-east of Australia. The habitat is in the drier of eastern Australian rainforests. It is a useful regeneration plant, appearing quickly in disturbed areas.

Description

A bush to small tree, to 11 metres tall with a stem diameter of 23 cm. The trunk is crooked, with fairly smooth grey or greenish grey bark. There are some bumps and irregularities, occasionally forming a vertical row. Small branches are brown, green and downy at the end, usually marked with reddish brown bumps. Leaves opposite on the stem, 5 to 12 cm long, 3 to 6 cm wide. They are variable in shape, but mostly ovate or elliptic and occasionally heart shaped at the base. Leaves toothed or entire. Glands are sometimes seen on the upper part of the leaf near the leaf base. Leaf stalks show short hairs, and vary in length from 5 mm to 40 mm. Like the related red kamala two basal veins are present, growing to a third of a half of the way up the leaf. Net veins are visible under the leaf.

Flowers, fruit and regeneration

Greenish yellow flowers form on clusters from October to March. Male and female flowers grow on different trees. No petals on the female flowers. The brown capsule matures from February to June, around 13 mm in diameter, covered with bristles. It splits into two valved segments, with a single grey round seed within each segment. Regeneration from fresh seed is reliable. Cuttings are also expected to do well.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6744294 claoxyloides Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Trees of Australia Garden plants Malpighiales of Australia Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller