Argyrodendron
Encyclopedia
Argyrodendron is a genus of mainly tree
s in the mallow family Malvaceae
. They occur in Malesia
, New Guinea
, New Caledonia
and Australia
. In Australia, they are a well-known rainforest species known by their Indigenous Australian name, booyong or the tulip oak.
Argyrodendron has often been treated as a synonym of Heritiera
, but a recent molecular study shows it to be distinct therefrom .
In their native habitat, they can grow tall, 40–60 metres, but rarely reach this in cultivation. The bases of large trees are usually prominently buttressed. Leaves with white or silver on underside. Argyrodendron actinophyllum
and Argyrodendron trifoliolatum
occur in scrubs and rainforests along the east coast of Australia
, but Argyrodendron peralatum
has a restricted distribution in north Queensland
between Tully
and Cooktown
. The grain is usually straight and open, sometimes interlocked or wavy and irregular producing some beautifully figured wood. Attractive figure on tangential face and large ray fleck on radial face are prominent features of Argyrodendron wood.
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
s in the mallow family Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
. They occur in Malesia
Malesia
Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the boundaries of the Indomalaya ecozone and Australasia ecozone, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom.-Floristic province:...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In Australia, they are a well-known rainforest species known by their Indigenous Australian name, booyong or the tulip oak.
Argyrodendron has often been treated as a synonym of Heritiera
Heritiera
Heritiera is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae family.-Selected species:* Heritiera aurea* Heritiera borneensis* Heritiera fomes* Heritiera globosa* Heritiera javanica* Heritiera littoralis...
, but a recent molecular study shows it to be distinct therefrom .
In their native habitat, they can grow tall, 40–60 metres, but rarely reach this in cultivation. The bases of large trees are usually prominently buttressed. Leaves with white or silver on underside. Argyrodendron actinophyllum
Argyrodendron actinophyllum
Argyrodendron actinophyllum is a large rainforest tree. It is native to eastern Australia, where it is known as Black Booyong. The heartwood is coloured pink-brown. The most distinctive feature of Argyrodendron actinophyllum is that the trunks form large characteristic buttresses....
and Argyrodendron trifoliolatum
Argyrodendron trifoliolatum
Argyrodendron trifoliolatum is an Australian rainforest tree. It is native to eastern Queensland and northeastern NSW, Australia, where it is known as White Booyong. It can grow up to 45 metres tall. Its flowers, produced from July to September, are in great numbers and are creamy-colored bell-shaped...
occur in scrubs and rainforests along the east coast of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, but Argyrodendron peralatum
Argyrodendron peralatum
Argyrodendron peralatum is a species in the genus Argyrodendron. It is more commonly known as in the Red Tulip Oak. It grows mainly in north Queensland, Australia between Tully and Cooktown. The most distinctive feature of Argyrodendron peralatum is that the trunks form large characteristic...
has a restricted distribution in north Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
between Tully
Tully, Queensland
Tully is a small town in Queensland, Australia, adjacent to the Bruce Highway approximately south of Cairns by road and north of Townsville. At the 2006 census, Tully had a population of 2,457....
and Cooktown
Cooktown, Queensland
Cooktown is a small town located at the mouth of the Endeavour River, on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, for repairs in 1770. At the 2006 census, Cooktown had a population of 1,336...
. The grain is usually straight and open, sometimes interlocked or wavy and irregular producing some beautifully figured wood. Attractive figure on tangential face and large ray fleck on radial face are prominent features of Argyrodendron wood.