Pouteria cotinifolia
Encyclopedia
Pouteria cotinifolia is an Australian tree in the Sapotaceae
Sapotaceae
Sapotaceae is a family of flowering plants, belonging to order Ericales. The family includes approximately 800 species of evergreen trees and shrubs in approximately 65 genera . Distribution is pantropical....

 family. The common names include Small-leaved Plum, Yellow Lemon and Small-leaved Coondoo. It occurs in the drier rainforests from the Richmond River, New South Wales to the Wenlock River 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...

.

It belongs to the large genus Pouteria
Pouteria
Pouteria is a genus of flowering trees in the gutta-percha family, Sapotaceae. The genus is widespread throughout the tropical regions of the world. It includes the Canistel , the Mamey Sapote and the Lúcuma...

which occurs across the tropics from South America to Indonesia and into eastern Australia. A genetic analysis of material found that Pouteria cotinifolia was most closely related to Pouteria eerwah
Pouteria eerwah
Pouteria eerwah is a rare species of Australian rainforest tree in the Sapotaceae family. Common names include Shiny-leaved Condoo, Black Plum and Wild Apple. It is endemic to south eastern Queensland, with a restricted distribution and regarded as endangered...

, and Pouteria australis was a sister to the two species - the three forming a distinct group.

It grows as a small tree, up to 15 metres (50 ft) tall and a stem diameter of 40 cm (16 in). It may be recognised by the small leaves, 1 to 5 cm long, 0.5 to 3 cm wide, with a rounded tip. Flowering occurs between February and March. The fruit is glossy black, usually containing one shining light brown seed. The seed has a lengthwise scar.

Two varieties are recognized
  • var pubescens
  • var. cotinifolia
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