Wilkiea huegeliana
Encyclopedia
Wilkiea huegeliana is a very common rainforest
plant occurring in eastern Australia
. Common names include Common Wilkiea, Tetra Beech, and Veiny Wilkiea. Originally described by French naturalist Louis René Tulasne
, it was given its current name by Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle.
The natural distribution is from Mount Dromedary (36° S) near Narooma
in south eastern New South Wales
to Maryborough
(25° S) in south eastern Queensland
. It has a preference for volcanic soils.
The habitat of the Common Wilkiea is in the understorey of all forms or rainforest, except cool temperate forest subject to colder temperatures.
The leaves measure 5 to 13 cm (2-5 in) long, and 1 to 5 cm (0.4-2 in) wide, and are opposite on the stem. Elliptic or oblong in shape, they usually have toothed margins, though rarely entire. Rounded at the top, tapering at the stem end of the leaf. Dark and glossy above the leaf, dull and paler underneath. The leaf stalks are 3 to 11 mm long, and are very heavily and noticeably veined, particularly below the leaf.
A dioecious
species, the plants are either male or female. The yellow green fragrant flowers form from September to February.
Fruit matures from May to September. The fruiting receptacle is shiny black in colour, 7 to 12 mm in diameter, without a stalk. Several of them sit together on a tubular disk. Regeneration is from fresh seeds.
Wilkiea huegeliana is most likely pollinated by Thrips setipennis, a species of thrips
. These insects have been found in both male and female flowers.
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
plant occurring in eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Common names include Common Wilkiea, Tetra Beech, and Veiny Wilkiea. Originally described by French naturalist Louis René Tulasne
Louis René Tulasne
Louis René Tulasne, aka Edmond Tulasne was a French botanist and mycologist who was born in Azay-le-Rideau. He originally studied law at Poitiers, but his interest later turned to botany. As a young man he accompanied botanist Auguste de Saint-Hilaire to South America to study the flora of Brazil...
, it was given its current name by Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle.
The natural distribution is from Mount Dromedary (36° S) near Narooma
Narooma, New South Wales
Narooma is a town in the Australian state of New South Wales on the far south coast. The town is on the Princes Highway. The name is said to be derived from the Aboriginal word meaning ‘clear blue waters’. At the 2006 census, Narooma had a population of 3,100 people.Montague Island, a National...
in south eastern 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 Maryborough
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
(25° S) in south eastern 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 has a preference for volcanic soils.
The habitat of the Common Wilkiea is in the understorey of all forms or rainforest, except cool temperate forest subject to colder temperatures.
Description
Wilkiea huegeliana is a shrub or small tree achieving a height of 8 metres (25 ft), and a stem diameter of 10 cm (4 in). The trunk is often crooked and irregular though not buttressed. The bark is smooth, brown or greyish, though can be somewhat scaly on larger plants.The leaves measure 5 to 13 cm (2-5 in) long, and 1 to 5 cm (0.4-2 in) wide, and are opposite on the stem. Elliptic or oblong in shape, they usually have toothed margins, though rarely entire. Rounded at the top, tapering at the stem end of the leaf. Dark and glossy above the leaf, dull and paler underneath. The leaf stalks are 3 to 11 mm long, and are very heavily and noticeably veined, particularly below the leaf.
A dioecious
Dioecious
Dioecy is the property of a group of biological organisms that have males and females, but not members that have organs of both sexes at the same time. I.e., those whose individual members can usually produce only one type of gamete; each individual organism is thus distinctly female or male...
species, the plants are either male or female. The yellow green fragrant flowers form from September to February.
Fruit matures from May to September. The fruiting receptacle is shiny black in colour, 7 to 12 mm in diameter, without a stalk. Several of them sit together on a tubular disk. Regeneration is from fresh seeds.
Wilkiea huegeliana is most likely pollinated by Thrips setipennis, a species of thrips
Thrips
Thrips are tiny, slender insects with fringed wings . Other common names for thrips include thunderflies, thunderbugs, storm flies, thunderblights, and corn lice...
. These insects have been found in both male and female flowers.