Didymocheton pettigrewianus
| Spurwood | |
|---|---|
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| Daintree National Park, Australia | |
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| Species: | D. pettigrewianum
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| Binomial name | |
| Dysoxylum pettigrewianum | |
Dysoxylum pettigrewianum, commonly known as the Spurwood, is a species of large tropical rainforest tree in the Mahogany family. Found in Queensland, New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Malesia. In Queensland it is found from Cooktown in the north to Paluma in the south.
The species was first described in 1892 by the colonial botanist of Queensland Frederick Manson Bailey. Common names include spurwood, Cairns satinwood and spur mahogany.[1] The species name honours William Pettigrew. It is a member of the large tropical genus Dysoxylum, many of which are large rainforest trees.[2]
Known for the prominent protrusions on the trunk buttresses, it may reach in excess of 35 metres (100 ft) tall,[3] with a spreading canopy up to 15 m (50 ft). The warty bark is dark brown,[2] and the red/brown timber has a pleasant fragrance. The compound leaves have between 7 and 15 overlapping leaflets.[3] The tree can be deciduous in winter dry spells. Appearing in January, the small yellow flowers are bell-shaped and have a diameter of around 1.2 cm (0.5 in). These are followed by the pear-shaped fruit which contain four seeds and ripen in November.[2] The orange/brown warty fruits are eaten by Cassowaries and Metallic Starlings,[3] and the leaves eaten by Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo.[4]
Dysoxylum pettigrewianum grows in lowland rainforest up to an altitude of 800 m (2500 ft).[5]
Growing too large for the average garden, Dysoxylum pettigrewianum is suitable for planting in parks and public gardens, making a useful shade tree. Young plants need shelter, and the species does best in a well drained acidic soil.[2]
References
- ^ "Dysoxylum pettigrewianum F.M.Bailey". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ^ a b c d Elliot RW, Jones DL, Blake T (1984). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation:Volume 3 - Ce-Er. Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 377. ISBN 0-85091-167-2.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c John Beasley - Plants of Tropical Queensland page 104, ISBN 1876617136
- ^ Martin, Roger William. Tree-kangaroos of Australia and New Guinea. Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 064309072X.
- ^ "Dysoxylum pettigrewianum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Retrieved 13 August 2011.