''Dysoxylum mollissimum'' subsp. ''molle'', the red bean or Miva mahogany, is a rainforest tree in the family

Meliaceae Meliaceae, the mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs (and a few herbaceous plants, mangroves) in the order Sapindales. They are characterised by alternate, usually pinnate leaves without stipules, and by syncar ...

. It occurs in tropical, sub-tropical and littoral rainforests in eastern Australia, as far southwards as north-eastern

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 ...

. Also occurs in

Malesia Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the Equator and the boundaries of the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom. It has been given different definitions. Th ...

and the south-western Pacific Islands. In Australia it is distributed from the Bellinger River in

in the south, to the wet tropics of north-eastern

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 , establishe ...

. The specific epithet ''mollissimum'' is from the Latin, meaning "very soft", describing the soft hairy leaflets. A signposted red bean tree may be seen near the car park of

Victoria Park Nature Reserve The Victoria Park Nature Reserve is a protected nature reserve that is located in the Northern Rivers region in the state of New South Wales, in eastern Australia. The sub-tropical jungle remnant is located an undulating high rainfall plain near ...

in north-eastern New South Wales.

Description

It is a large and impressive tree, up to tall and a trunk diameter of . It is usually buttressed or flanged at the base. The trunk is scaly and rough, grey or brown in colour. Freshly cut bark has an onion type scent.

Leaves

Leaflets are usually opposite on the stem, without serrations, and distinctly asymmetrical at the leaf base. Leaflets are long and wide, and are mid green above, paler below, and sometimes softly hairy under the leaf. ''True leaves'' are long,

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and in ...

. Leaf stem swollen where joining the larger branch. Leaf venation is evident above and below, but raised and more noticeable below. Net veins easily seen. Veins creamy green, contrasting with the darker leaf colour.

Flowers and fruit

White flowers form on panicles from January to July. The fruit is a fawnish brown capsule, around in diameter. There is one reddish brown seed in each of the one to five cells. The fruit ripens between November and March. The fruit is bird attracting. Fresh seed is advised for regeneration.

Conservation

This species has been assessed by the IUCN and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as

least concern A least-concern species is a species that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as evaluated as not being a focus of species conservation because the specific species is still plentiful in the wild. T ...

Timber

The tree produces a well regarded mahogany timber, suited to cabinet work, carving and boat building. It is Reddish brown and easily worked, Sapwood is creamy pink. and not resistant to termites. There is concern of inhaling wood dust from this tree. Red Bean Dysoxylum mollissimum bark

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5319530 mollissimum subsp. molle Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Trees of Australia Sapindales of Australia Plant subspecies