Daphnandra apatela
Encyclopedia
Daphnandra apatela, the Socketwood, Light Yellowwood or Canary Socketwood is a common rainforest
tree in eastern Australia
. It grows in the more fertile alluvial soils and basaltic soils. Distributed from the Watagan Mountains
(31° S) in New South Wales
to Miriam Vale (24° S) near Gladstone
in Queensland
.
family Atherospermataceae
. Formerly considered Daphnandra micrantha
, the Australian Socketwood. Recently it has been recognised as a separate species, as published by Richard Schodde. The generic name Daphnandra
refers to a similarity of the anthers of the Bay Laurel
. Greek daphne refers to the Bay Laurel, and andros from the Greek for man. The species name apatela is from the Greek to deceive, because of the similarity to Daphnandra micrantha
. A feature where larger branchlets meet the main trunk resembles a "ball and socket" type joint. Hence the common name of Socketwood. Canary Socketwood or Light Yellowwood refers to the colour of the timber.
s which have a similar effect as strychnine
, though milder. Small branches covered in downy hairs, flattened when joining to the main branches. Ball and socket type joint where larger branchlets join the main stem.
s. Flowers 8 mm in diameter on short stalks. The fruit is a capsule, covered in fine brown hair. Egg shaped, round or sometimes asymmetrical. 12–25 mm long. Fruit matures between December to February, or as late as May. Regeneration from fresh seeds yields a success rate of 10% after 24 days.
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
tree in eastern 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...
. It grows in the more fertile alluvial soils and basaltic soils. Distributed from the Watagan Mountains
Watagan Mountains
The Watagan Mountains are located on the East Coast of New South Wales, Australia. They are between the Hunter River Catchment and the Tuggerah Lakes. The Watagans are a popular tourist location and are close to Newcastle, Sydney and the Central Coast....
(31° S) in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
to Miriam Vale (24° S) near Gladstone
Gladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
in 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...
.
Naming & Taxonomy
A member of the ancient GondwanaGondwana
In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
family Atherospermataceae
Atherospermataceae
The Atherospermataceae, commonly known as the southern sassafrases, are a family of broadleaf evergreen trees and shrubs. The family includes 14 species in seven genera. The atherosperms are native to the southern hemisphere, with two species native to southern Chile and 12 species native to...
. Formerly considered Daphnandra micrantha
Daphnandra micrantha
Daphnandra micrantha, the Socketwood or Manning River Socketwood is a rainforest tree in eastern Australia. It grows near streams in various types of rainforest. Restricted to the Manning River and Hastings River valleys of northern eastern New South Wales...
, the Australian Socketwood. Recently it has been recognised as a separate species, as published by Richard Schodde. The generic name Daphnandra
Daphnandra
Daphnandra is a genus of shrubs and trees in the family Atherospermataceae, or formerly Monimiaceae. The genus is endemic to Australia.There are six species, occurring in New South Wales and Queensland:...
refers to a similarity of the anthers of the Bay Laurel
Bay Laurel
The bay laurel , also known as sweet bay, bay tree, true laurel, Grecian laurel, laurel tree, or simply laurel, is an aromatic evergreen tree or large shrub with green, glossy leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. It is the source of the bay leaf used in cooking...
. Greek daphne refers to the Bay Laurel, and andros from the Greek for man. The species name apatela is from the Greek to deceive, because of the similarity to Daphnandra micrantha
Daphnandra micrantha
Daphnandra micrantha, the Socketwood or Manning River Socketwood is a rainforest tree in eastern Australia. It grows near streams in various types of rainforest. Restricted to the Manning River and Hastings River valleys of northern eastern New South Wales...
. A feature where larger branchlets meet the main trunk resembles a "ball and socket" type joint. Hence the common name of Socketwood. Canary Socketwood or Light Yellowwood refers to the colour of the timber.
Description
A medium to large tree, sometimes exceeding 30 metres tall with a trunk diameter of up to 75 cm. Horizontal branches give a dense crown. The base of the stem is sometimes flanged, but not buttressed. Bark is grey and somewhat rough, with raised corky bumps. The bark contains alkaloidAlkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
s which have a similar effect as strychnine
Strychnine
Strychnine is a highly toxic , colorless crystalline alkaloid used as a pesticide, particularly for killing small vertebrates such as birds and rodents. Strychnine causes muscular convulsions and eventually death through asphyxia or sheer exhaustion...
, though milder. Small branches covered in downy hairs, flattened when joining to the main branches. Ball and socket type joint where larger branchlets join the main stem.
Leaves
Leaves feature about 20 teeth on each side. The base of the leaf is not toothed. Leaves 3 to 8 cm long, 1.5 to 4 cm wide. The midrib is raised or flattened on the top surface, raised below. Leaf venation more evident below the leaf. 2 to 7 lateral veins from the midrib on each side. The green coloured leaf stem is 3 to 8 mm long. Leaves opposite on the stem.Flowers and fruit
Flowers from September to October, being white in small paniclePanicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
s. Flowers 8 mm in diameter on short stalks. The fruit is a capsule, covered in fine brown hair. Egg shaped, round or sometimes asymmetrical. 12–25 mm long. Fruit matures between December to February, or as late as May. Regeneration from fresh seeds yields a success rate of 10% after 24 days.