Alloxylon pinnatum
Alloxylon pinnatum | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Proteales |
Family: | Proteaceae |
Genus: | Alloxylon |
Species: | A. pinnatum
|
Binomial name | |
Alloxylon pinnatum (
Crisp | |
Range of A. pinnatum in northern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland | |
Synonyms | |
|
Alloxylon pinnatum, known as Dorrigo waratah, is a tree of the family Proteaceae found in warm-temperate rainforest of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales in eastern Australia. It has shiny green leaves that are either pinnate (lobed) and up to 30 cm (12 in) long, or lanceolate (spear-shaped) and up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long. The prominent pinkish-red flower heads, known as inflorescences, appear in spring and summer; these are made up of 50 to 140 individual flowers arranged in corymb or raceme. These are followed by rectangular woody seed pods, which bear two rows of winged seeds.
Known for many years as Oreocallis pinnata, it was transferred to the new genus
Description
The Dorrigo waratah is a rainforest tree that reaches 25 m (82 ft) high, with a non-buttressed trunk of 1.5 m (5 ft) diameter at breast height (dbh). The bark is greyish brown and covered in many small pimples, rendering it sandpaper-like in texture.[1] The green foliage consists of several distinct juvenile and adult leaf forms, which are arranged alternately along the stems. Juvenile leaves are light green and at first simple, with a single blade. Successive leaves on more mature plants become more complex, or pinnate, with deep lobes; these leaves are up to 30 cm (12 in) long with 2–11 leaflets.[2] Some adult leaves are simple—with a single lanceolate leaf blade—and up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long;[3] these are generally located near the flower heads.[2] Among the green foliage there are occasional yellow leaves. New branchlets and leaves are covered in brown hair.[1]
The pinkish-red compound flowerheads, known as
The Dorrigo waratah can be distinguished from other members of the genus Alloxylon by its pinnate adult leaves. This feature serves to differentiate it as other species in the genus have simple adult leaves. The other species have inflorescences with fewer flowers (50 maximum), and have yellow pollen.[4]
Taxonomy
First described as a
A. pinnatum and the other three tree waratah species lie in the subtribe
Distribution and habitat
The Dorrigo waratah is found in
Conservation status
The Dorrigo waratah is classified as 3RCa under the Rare or Threatened Australian Plant (ROTAP) criteria for threatened species,[17] and listed as near threatened under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act 1992.[18] The flowers are visited by the rare Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia), which occurs in the same region.[19] In 2016, the Dorrigo waratah was one of eleven species selected for the Save a Species Walk campaign in April 2016; scientists walked 300 km (190 mi) to raise money for collection of seeds to be prepared and stored at the Australian PlantBank at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan.[20] Protected areas in New South Wales in which it grows include Bellinger River National Park and Dorrigo National Park.[21]
Cultivation
The bright, prominently displayed flowers and bird-attracting properties of the Dorrigo waratah make it a desirable garden plant. It reaches only about 6–10 m (20–33 ft) in cultivation,
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9589436-7-3.
- ^ ISBN 0-643-05693-9.
- ^ ISBN 0-207-17277-3.
- ^ .
- ^ "Embothrium wickhamii var. pinnatum Maiden & Betche". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ^ "Oreocallis pinnata (Maiden & Betche) Sleumer". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ^ "Alloxylon pinnatum (Maiden & Betche) P.H. Weston & Crisp". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ^ a b c d Mackerras, Katrina (21 July 2013) [2005]. "Alloxylon pinnatum". Growing Native Plants. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian Government (published 2010). Retrieved 21 December 2013.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ISBN 0-85091-696-8.
- .
- .
- ISBN 0-86417-878-6.
- .
- doi:10.1139/b91-116.
- .
- .
- ^ Weston, Peter H.; Crisp, Michael D. "Alloxylon pinnatum". PlantNET – New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- ^ Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (28 August 2015). "Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006" (PDF). Nature Conservation Act 1992. Australia: Queensland Government. p. 64. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
- ISBN 978-94-007-7170-3.
- ^ Barlass, Tim (10 April 2016). "Scientists race to save 11 endangered plants in NSW". Sydney Morning Herald.
- ISBN 0-7313-6997-1.
- ^ a b Robinson, Scott; Naylor, Keith. "Plant of the Season (Summer): "Dorrigo Waratah"". Bilpin, New South Wales: Mount Tomah Botanic Garden. Archived from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ Office Of Environment & Heritage. "Alloxylon pinnatum". Bilpin, New South Wales: Mount Tomah Botanic Garden. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2012.
- doi:10.1071/EA97106.
External links
- Media related to Alloxylon pinnatum at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Alloxylon pinnatum at Wikispecies