Dysoxylum pettigrewianum
Encyclopedia
Dysoxylum pettigrewianum, commonly known as the Spurwood, is a species of large tropical rainforest tree in the Mahogany
family. Found in Queensland
, New Guinea
, Solomon Islands
and Malesia
. In Queensland it is found from Cooktown in the north to Paluma in the south.
The species was first described in 1892 by the colonial botanist of Queensland Frederick Manson Bailey
. Common names include spurwood, Cairns satinwood and spur mahogany. The species name honours William Pettigrew
. It is a member of the large tropical genus Dysoxylum
, many of which are large rainforest trees.
Known for the prominent protrusions on the trunk buttresses, it may reach in excess of 35 metres (100 ft) tall, with a spreading canopy up to 15 m (50 ft). The warty bark is dark brown, and the red/brown timber has a pleasant fragrance. The compound leaves have between 7 and 15 overlapping leaflets. The tree can be deciduous in winter dry spells. Appearing in January, the small yellow flowers are bell-shaped and have a diameter of around 1.2 cm (0.5 in). These are followed by the pear-shaped fruit which contain four seeds and ripen in November. The orange/brown warty fruits are eaten by Cassowaries and Metallic Starling
s, and the leaves eaten by Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo
.
Dysoxylum pettigrewianum grows in lowland rainforest up to an altitude of 800 m (2500 ft).
Growing too large for the average garden, Dysoxylum pettigrewianum is suitable for planting in parks and public gardens, making a useful shade tree. Young plants need shelter, and the species does best in a well drained acidic soil.
Meliaceae
The Meliaceae, or the Mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs in the order Sapindales....
family. Found in 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...
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and Malesia
Malesia
Malesia is a biogeographical region straddling the boundaries of the Indomalaya ecozone and Australasia ecozone, and also a phytogeographical floristic region in the Paleotropical Kingdom.-Floristic province:...
. In Queensland it is found from Cooktown in the north to Paluma in the south.
The species was first described in 1892 by the colonial botanist of Queensland 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:...
. Common names include spurwood, Cairns satinwood and spur mahogany. The species name honours William Pettigrew
William Pettigrew
William Pettigrew was an alderman and mayor of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and a Member of the Legislative Council of Queensland, Australia.- Personal life :...
. It is a member of the large tropical genus Dysoxylum
Dysoxylum
Dysoxylum is a flowering plant genus in the mahogany family . There are about 70 species, mainly trees, occurring from Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, New Caledonia and through to other parts of the western Pacific Ocean...
, many of which are large rainforest trees.
Known for the prominent protrusions on the trunk buttresses, it may reach in excess of 35 metres (100 ft) tall, with a spreading canopy up to 15 m (50 ft). The warty bark is dark brown, and the red/brown timber has a pleasant fragrance. The compound leaves have between 7 and 15 overlapping leaflets. The tree can be deciduous in winter dry spells. Appearing in January, the small yellow flowers are bell-shaped and have a diameter of around 1.2 cm (0.5 in). These are followed by the pear-shaped fruit which contain four seeds and ripen in November. The orange/brown warty fruits are eaten by Cassowaries and Metallic Starling
Metallic Starling
The Metallic Starling also known as Shining Starling, is a bird in the starling family. It is native of New Guinea and nearby Australasian islands, and a limited area of northeastern Australia.-Description:...
s, and the leaves eaten by Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo
Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo
Lumholtz's Tree-kangaroo is a heavy-bodied tree-kangaroo found in rain forests of the Atherton Tableland Region of Queensland. Its status is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, although local authorities classify it as rare...
.
Dysoxylum pettigrewianum grows in lowland rainforest up to an altitude of 800 m (2500 ft).
Growing too large for the average garden, Dysoxylum pettigrewianum is suitable for planting in parks and public gardens, making a useful shade tree. Young plants need shelter, and the species does best in a well drained acidic soil.