Cryptocarya leucophylla
| Cryptocarya leucophylla | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Cryptocarya |
| Species: | C. leucophylla |
| Binomial name | |
| Cryptocarya leucophylla | |
Cryptocarya leucophylla, commonly known as northern laurel,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lauraceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a tree with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves, creamy green, unpleasantly perfumed flowers, and elliptic to more or less spherical, black drupes.
Description
Cryptocarya leucophylla is a tree that typically grows to a height of up to 25 m (82 ft), its stems buttressed. Its leaves are elliptic to egg-shaped, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, 68–133 mm (2.7–5.2 in) long and 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) wide on a petiole 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) long. The flowers are arranged in panicles in leaf axils shorter or only slightly longer than the leaves. They are creamy green and unpleasantly perfumed. The perianth tube is 0.9–1.3 mm (0.04–0.05 in) long, 1.2–1.5 mm (0.05–0.06 in) wide. The outer anthers are 0.7–0.9 mm (0.03–0.04 in) long and 0.6–0.7 mm (0.02–0.03 in) wide, the inner anthers 0.8–0.9 mm (0.03–0.04 in) long and about 0.5 mm (0.02 in) wide. Flowering occurs from January to March, and the fruit is an elliptic to more or less spherical, black drupe, 13–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 12–13 mm (0.5–0.5 in) wide with yellowish cotyledons.[3][4]
Taxonomy
Cryptocarya leucophylla was first formally described in 1989 by Bernard Hyland in Australian Systematic Botany from specimens collected in 1985.[5] The specific epithet (leucophylla) means 'white leaved'.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Cryptocarya leucophylla grows in mountain rainforest at altitudes between 800 and 1,300 m (2,600 and 4,300 ft).[3]
Conservation status
This Cryptocarya is listed as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[2]
References
- ^"Cryptocarya leucophylla". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ ab"Cryptocarya Leucophylla". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ abLe Cussan, J.; Hyland, Bernard P.M. "Cryptocarya leucophylla". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^"Cryptocarya leucophylla". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^"Cryptocarya leucophylla". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 239. ISBN 9780958034180.
