Pouteria eerwah
Encyclopedia
Pouteria eerwah is a rare species of Australian rainforest
tree in the Sapotaceae
family. Common names include Shiny-leaved Condoo, Black Plum and Wild Apple. It is endemic to south eastern Queensland
, with a restricted distribution and regarded as endangered. There is discussion whether this plant should remain named as Planchonella eerwah.
The tree was first described as Sideroxylon eerwah in 1894 by Frederick Manson Bailey
, before being moved to its current binomial name by Baehni in 1942. The species name is derived from Mount Eerwah near Eumundi in Queensland. A genetic analysis of material found that Pouteria eerwah was most closely related to Pouteria cotinifolia
, and Pouteria australis was a sister to the two species - the three forming a distinct group.
Pouteria eerwah grows as a tall shrub or small tree reaching 4 to 10 metres (13-35 ft) high with scaly bark on its trunk. It has leathery leaves with prominent raised veins which measure 4–
14 cm (1.6-5.6 in) in length. Flowers and fruit can be found in any season. The flowers are a cream-green colour and hairy and are about 4 mm long. The dark red-purple to black fruit are oval to globular, measuring 3–6 cm (1.2-2.4 in) long, with three to five seeds.
It is restricted to three locations in southeastern Queensland. It grows on rocky slopes in vine thickets and rainforest. Dominant associated species in southern populations include hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii
), Harpullia pendula
, and members of the genus Flindersia
, and in the northern Argyrodendron
species, Atalaya multiflora
, Choricarpia subargentea
, Excoecaria dallachyana, and Flindersia australis
.
Threats include overrunning of habitat by weeds such as lantana (Lantana camara
), and in the Sunshine Coast
glycine (Neonotonia whitii), corky passionflower (Passiflora superosa), and umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla
). Feral pigs eat the fruit and seeds.
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
tree in the Sapotaceae
Sapotaceae
Sapotaceae is a family of flowering plants, belonging to order Ericales. The family includes approximately 800 species of evergreen trees and shrubs in approximately 65 genera . Distribution is pantropical....
family. Common names include Shiny-leaved Condoo, Black Plum and Wild Apple. It is endemic to south eastern 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...
, with a restricted distribution and regarded as endangered. There is discussion whether this plant should remain named as Planchonella eerwah.
The tree was first described as Sideroxylon eerwah in 1894 by Frederick Manson Bailey
Frederick Manson Bailey
Frederick Manson Bailey CMG was a botanist active in Australia, who made valuable contributions to the characterisation of the flora of Queensland.-Early life:...
, before being moved to its current binomial name by Baehni in 1942. The species name is derived from Mount Eerwah near Eumundi in Queensland. A genetic analysis of material found that Pouteria eerwah was most closely related to Pouteria cotinifolia
Pouteria cotinifolia
Pouteria cotinifolia is an Australian tree in the Sapotaceae family. The common names include Small-leaved Plum, Yellow Lemon and Small-leaved Coondoo...
, and Pouteria australis was a sister to the two species - the three forming a distinct group.
Pouteria eerwah grows as a tall shrub or small tree reaching 4 to 10 metres (13-35 ft) high with scaly bark on its trunk. It has leathery leaves with prominent raised veins which measure 4–
14 cm (1.6-5.6 in) in length. Flowers and fruit can be found in any season. The flowers are a cream-green colour and hairy and are about 4 mm long. The dark red-purple to black fruit are oval to globular, measuring 3–6 cm (1.2-2.4 in) long, with three to five seeds.
It is restricted to three locations in southeastern Queensland. It grows on rocky slopes in vine thickets and rainforest. Dominant associated species in southern populations include hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii
Araucaria cunninghamii
Araucaria cunninghamii is a species of Araucaria known as Moreton Bay Pine, or Hoop Pine. Other less commonly used names include Colonial Pine, Richmond River Pine, Queensland Pine, Alloa, Ningwik, or Pien, the wood is sometimes called Arakaria)...
), Harpullia pendula
Harpullia pendula
Harpullia pendula, known as the tulipwood or tulip lancewood is a small to medium sized rainforest tree from Australia. The tree's small size, pleasant form and attractive fruit ensures the popularity of this ornamental tree. The range of natural distribution is from the Bellinger River in northern...
, and members of the genus Flindersia
Flindersia
Flindersia is a genus of 14 species of tree in the family Rutaceae. They are native to the Moluccas, New Guinea, Australia and New Caledonia.They are cultivated and planted for both timber and as a street tree...
, and in the northern Argyrodendron
Argyrodendron
Argyrodendron is a genus of mainly trees 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...
species, Atalaya multiflora
Atalaya multiflora
Atalaya multiflora known as the Broad Leaved Whitewood is a rare and endangered rainforest tree of the soapberry family native to eastern Australia....
, Choricarpia subargentea
Choricarpia subargentea
Choricarpia subargentea is a rare Australian rainforest tree, growing near Mullumbimby in north eastern New South Wales. And from Boonah to Imbil in south eastern Queensland....
, Excoecaria dallachyana, and Flindersia australis
Flindersia australis
Flindersia australis is a rainforest tree from New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It grows up to 40 metres high, with larger trees having a buttressed trunk. The leaves are alternate or occasionally opposite and have between 3 and 13 leaflets. Each of these is 2.4 to 13 cm long and...
.
Threats include overrunning of habitat by weeds such as lantana (Lantana camara
Lantana camara
Lantana camara, also known as Spanish Flag or West Indian Lantana, is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family, Verbenaceae, that is native to the American tropics. It has been introduced into other parts of the world as an ornamental plant and is considered an invasive species in many...
), and in the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast
There are several places around the globe that use the name Sunshine Coast. They are collections of coastal towns and/or cities that have banded together, usually for tourist promotional reasons...
glycine (Neonotonia whitii), corky passionflower (Passiflora superosa), and umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla
Schefflera actinophylla
Schefflera actinophylla is a tree in the Araliaceae family. It is native to tropical rainforests and gallery forests in Australia , New Guinea and Java. Common names include Umbrella Tree, Octopus Tree and Amate.-Description:S...
). Feral pigs eat the fruit and seeds.