Long Grass Nature Refuge
Fauna and Flora Detail
WildMan
Wildlife Management System
© Copyright Long Grass Nature Refuge,2011
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Scientific Name
Common Name
Type
Notes
Tall tree, buttressed, growing to 40 m. Branchlets aromatic when broken, exuding a clear mango or mandarin scented sap. New growth exhibits pink-red stems and mid veins. Found in littoral, riverine, and dry subtropical rainforests. A pioneer species in the rainforest-sclerophyll forest ecotone. Endemic Australian species, ranging from Jervis Bay, NSW to Cooktown, North Queensland. Leaves are compound alternate, pinnate, glossy, the rachis bearing 4 to 10 alternate or sub-opposite leaflets, not toothed, 5-10 cm long, drawn out into a long point at the tip, asymmetrical at the base. No true terminal leaflet. Leaves are glossy dark green upper, dull light green lower, elliptical or egg shaped, 5 10 cm long. Flowers are pink or white, in large terminal panicles, or springing from the forks of the upper leaves. Sepals five, brown, smooth, very small. Flowering period mainly October to December. Fruit is drupe, black, scented, obliquely egg shaped (like a small mango), up to 9 mm in diameter. Seed, one, obliquely egg shaped, 5 mm long. Fruit ripe December to January. A handsome, bird attracting, fast growing and very hardy tree, ideal for a large garden or park setting. Not edible. Germination is slow and usually erratic. Although its wood resembles Red Cedar it is woolly, difficult to work and is non-durable; hence the historical derogatory, common name of Chinamens Cedar. Was the most favoured wood for brake blocks on bullock wagons in the old days. Fruit is eaten by many frugivores
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