''Synoum'' is a

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...

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 ...

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

in the family Meliaceae. It is endemic to

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 ...

where it is found along the eastern sub-tropical to tropical coast, usually on the margins of

rainforests 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 rainforest ...

, in

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_ ...

and

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 ...

. The genus was originally described by French naturalist Adrien-Henri de Jussieu in 1830. The only species recognized is ''Synoum glandulosum'', known commonly as scentless rosewood. It resembles the related ''

Toona ''Toona'', commonly known as redcedar, toon (also spelled tun) or toona, tooni (in India) is a genus in the mahogany family, Meliaceae, native from Afghanistan south to India, and east to North Korea, Papua New Guinea and eastern Australia. In ol ...

'', except that the leaves have 5-9 leaflets, whereas ''Toona'' has 8-20. Its fruit matures December to January and is a reddish three-lobed capsule that contains two or three seeds surrounded by a red

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 ...

. Germination from fresh seed is reliable and relatively fast. It is

dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...

, with male and female flowers on separate plants. The timber of ''Synoum'' is used in local construction as sawn timber for general house framing, flooring, mouldings and joinery. It is also used for furniture, shop and office fixtures, panelling, turnery, carving, as structural plywood, scaffold planks, wood wool, paper products, particleboard, and medium density fibreboard.

Gallery

Image:Synoum - bark.jpg, Bark on a large ''Synoum'' tree Image:Synoum flower buds.JPG, ''Synoum'' flower buds Image:Synoum - flowers.jpg, ''Synoum'' flowers Image:Synoum - fruit.JPG, ''Synoum'' fruit Image:Synoum - large tree base Chatswood west.jpg, Base of a 15 metre tall ''Synoum'' Image:Synoum - juvenile foliage.jpg, ''Synoum'' - juvenile foliage

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q16746709, from2=Q2708719 Meliaceae Monotypic Sapindales genera Meliaceae genera Sapindales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Dioecious plants