Sarcopteryx stipata
Encyclopedia
Sarcopteryx stipata, known as the Steelwood is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia
. Occurring from the Bulga Plateau and Comboyne Plateau
north west of Taree, New South Wales
. As far north as Fraser Island off the coast of south eastern Queensland
. The habitat is sub tropical rainforest. Though it sometimes occurs in the warm temperate rainforests on poorer soils. A member of the soap berry
family. The generic name Sarcopteryx translates to "fleshy wing", as the fruit can be wing shaped. The seed is surrounded in fleshy yellow aril
. stipata means "surrounded". Named Steelwood as the timber is very tough, hard and heavy, with an interlocked grain.
. The base of larger trees is somewhat flanged. Bark is hard and grey in colour. Often marked with irregularities such as wrinkles, horizontal bands and bumps. Small branches are thick, longitudinally ridged, and with soft brown hairs. Brown hairs occur on many parts of the plant.
s, either at the end of the branchlets or from the axils of the leaves. Petals 2 mm long. The fruit is a red or pink capsule 13 mm in diameter. It has three or four angles, with three cells. Each cell contains one brown shiny cylindrical seed, 5 mm in diameter. Yellow aril
completely covers the seed.
Fruit matures in November and December. Fruit eaten by Green Catbird
and Lewin's Honeyeater
. Germination from fresh seed is slow but reliable. Removal of the yellow flesh from the seed is advised. After four months practically all seeds should germinate.
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...
. Occurring from the Bulga Plateau and Comboyne Plateau
Boorganna Nature Reserve
Boorganna Nature Reserve is located north west of Taree on the Comboyne Plateau in New South Wales, Australia. Managed by the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. It features various forest types, including stands of sub tropical rainforest...
north west of Taree, New South Wales
Taree, New South Wales
Taree is a city on the Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia. Taree and nearby Cundletown were settled in 1831 by William Wynter. Since then Taree has grown to a population of around 20,000 people and is the centre of a significant agricultural district. It is 16 km from the sea coast,...
. As far north as Fraser Island off the coast of 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...
. The habitat is sub tropical rainforest. Though it sometimes occurs in the warm temperate rainforests on poorer soils. A member of the soap berry
Sapindaceae
Sapindaceae, also known as the soapberry family, is a family of flowering plants in the order Sapindales. There are about 140-150 genera with 1400-2000 species, including maple, horse chestnut and lychee....
family. The generic name Sarcopteryx translates to "fleshy wing", as the fruit can be wing shaped. The seed is surrounded in fleshy yellow aril
Aril
An aril is any specialized outgrowth from the funiculus that covers or is attached to the seed. It is sometimes applied to any appendage or thickening of the seed coat in flowering plants, such as the edible parts of the mangosteen and pomegranate fruit, the mace of the nutmeg seed, or the...
. stipata means "surrounded". Named Steelwood as the timber is very tough, hard and heavy, with an interlocked grain.
Description
Usually seen as a small tree up to 10 metres in height. Though a 40 metre tall tree with a trunk diameter of 75 cm was recorded at Griers Scrub in Nightcap National ParkNightcap National Park
Nightcap National Park is in New South Wales, Australia, 35 km north of Lismore. It is classed by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas as Category II...
. The base of larger trees is somewhat flanged. Bark is hard and grey in colour. Often marked with irregularities such as wrinkles, horizontal bands and bumps. Small branches are thick, longitudinally ridged, and with soft brown hairs. Brown hairs occur on many parts of the plant.
Leaves
Compound leaves are 9 to 18 cm long, containing six leaflets, though occasionally three to nine leaflets. Leaflets 4 to 10 cm long, 1.5 to 4 cm wide. Broad lanceolate in shape, narrowed at the base, and with a long fine leaf tip. The left and right side of the leaflets are unequal in proportion. Shiny green above, duller below with some brown hairs. The compound leaf stalk is brown and hairy, swollen where it joins the branchlet. Leaflet stalks are between 3 and 12 mm long. Leaf veins raised on both sides. Some lateral veins become wider and thicker where meeting the main mid rib of the leaf.Flowers, fruit & germination
White or cream flowers appear from August to October on 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, either at the end of the branchlets or from the axils of the leaves. Petals 2 mm long. The fruit is a red or pink capsule 13 mm in diameter. It has three or four angles, with three cells. Each cell contains one brown shiny cylindrical seed, 5 mm in diameter. Yellow aril
Aril
An aril is any specialized outgrowth from the funiculus that covers or is attached to the seed. It is sometimes applied to any appendage or thickening of the seed coat in flowering plants, such as the edible parts of the mangosteen and pomegranate fruit, the mace of the nutmeg seed, or the...
completely covers the seed.
Fruit matures in November and December. Fruit eaten by Green Catbird
Green Catbird
The Green Catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris is a species of bowerbird found on subtropical forests along the east coast of Australia, from southeastern Queensland to southern New South Wales. Its colouring is emerald green, with faint black markings on the face and white streaks on the neck.Green...
and Lewin's Honeyeater
Lewin's Honeyeater
The Lewin's Honeyeater, Meliphaga lewinii, is a bird that inhabits the ranges along the east coast of Australia. It has a semicircular ear patch, pale yellow in colour.The name of this bird commemorates the Australian artist John Lewin....
. Germination from fresh seed is slow but reliable. Removal of the yellow flesh from the seed is advised. After four months practically all seeds should germinate.