Beilschmiedia obtusifolia
Encyclopedia
Beilschmiedia obtusifolia is a rainforest laurel growing in eastern Australia. The range of natural distribution is from the Manning River
(31° S) in New South Wales
to the Daintree River
(16° S) in tropical Queensland
. Beilschmiedia obtusifolia grows in tropical and sub tropical rainforests. Usually on the more fertile basaltic sites, sometimes close to the sea. Common names include Blush Walnut, Hard Bolly Gum, and Nut Wood.
. The tree's base is flanged in larger specimens.
Shoots and stems hairy. The elliptic or reverse lanceolate shaped leaves are alternate and not toothed, 8 to 10 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide. Bluntly pointed or sometimes notched at the tip. Leaf stalks 5 mm long. Leaf venation is prominent on both sides, with a raised midrib.
Cream flowers form in panicles from October to November, the flowers have an unpleasant scent. The fruit ripens December to July, being a black egg shaped drupe
with a scented green oily aril
. 20 to 30 mm long with a single seed inside. As with most Australian laurels, removal of the fleshy aril
is advised to assist seed germination, which is slow but fairly reliable with Beilschmiedia obtusifolia.
The fruit is eaten by a variety of birds, including Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Topknot Pigeon
, Green Catbird
and the Wompoo Fruit Dove.
Manning River
The Manning River is a river in the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia that flows through the Manning Valley. It is one of Australia's few large river systems not to be dammed for water supply purposes anywhere along its catchment...
(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 the Daintree River
Daintree River
The Daintree River runs through the Daintree Rainforest in the Cape Tribulation region of Queensland in northern Australia. It is located about 100 kilometres northwest of Cairns in far north tropical Queensland and drains an area of 2,125 square kilometres. The river, along with the Daintree...
(16° S) in tropical 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...
. Beilschmiedia obtusifolia grows in tropical and sub tropical rainforests. Usually on the more fertile basaltic sites, sometimes close to the sea. Common names include Blush Walnut, Hard Bolly Gum, and Nut Wood.
Description
A medium to large tree reaching to 37 metres tall and one metre in trunk diameter. The cylindrical trunk is brown or creamy with vertical lines of raised pustules. The trunk features scales with round depressions, colloquially known as "bollies", similar to the related Bollygum, Litsea reticulataLitsea reticulata
Litsea reticulata is a common Australian tree, growing from near Milton, New South Wales to the Bunya Mountains, Queensland. Common names include Bollygum, Bolly Wood and Brown Beech...
. The tree's base is flanged in larger specimens.
Shoots and stems hairy. The elliptic or reverse lanceolate shaped leaves are alternate and not toothed, 8 to 10 cm long and 2 to 4 cm wide. Bluntly pointed or sometimes notched at the tip. Leaf stalks 5 mm long. Leaf venation is prominent on both sides, with a raised midrib.
Cream flowers form in panicles from October to November, the flowers have an unpleasant scent. The fruit ripens December to July, being a black egg shaped drupe
Drupe
In botany, a drupe is a fruit in which an outer fleshy part surrounds a shell of hardened endocarp with a seed inside. These fruits develop from a single carpel, and mostly from flowers with superior ovaries...
with a scented green oily 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...
. 20 to 30 mm long with a single seed inside. As with most Australian laurels, removal of the fleshy 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...
is advised to assist seed germination, which is slow but fairly reliable with Beilschmiedia obtusifolia.
The fruit is eaten by a variety of birds, including Rose-crowned Fruit Dove, Topknot Pigeon
Topknot Pigeon
The Topknot Pigeon is a pigeon native to Australia. It is also known by the name of "Flock Pigeon".-Description:...
, 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 the Wompoo Fruit Dove.