Common name: Axe-handle Wood
Planchonella myrsinifolia subsp. howeana (F.Muell.) Jessup APNI* Synonyms: Planchonella reticulata Pierre ex Dubard APNI*
Planchonella howeana (F.Muell.) Pierre APNI*
Pouteria howeana (F.Muell.) Baehni APNI*
Pouteria myrsinoides subsp. reticulata (Baill.) P.S.Green APNI*
Description: Tree to 6 (rarely 10) m tall; latex watery, white; shoot tips with appressed, reddish hairs.
Leaves alternate, elliptic-rhombic to broadly obovate, 4–8 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, apex obtuse-rounded or slightly retuse, base cuneate, coriaceous, upper surface dark glossy green, pinnately veined with 5–8 pairs of lateral veins, reticulate.
Flowers axillary, in clusters of 2–6-flowers; bisexual, 5-merous. Sepals 5, fused at base. Petals 5, fused to halfway, 7–9 mm long, white, cream to green or yellow green. Stamens 5, staminodes 5 and alternating with the corolla lobes.
Fruit ovoid-ellipsoidal, 1.5–2 cm long, with persistent style at apex and sepals at base; 1–3-seeded; seeds c.1.5–2 cm long, obliquely ellipsoidal, compressed, with a scar slightly shorter than seed.
Flowering: Fruit ripe July–November.
Distribution and occurrence: A common tree at lower elevations. Endemic to Lord Howe Island
NSW subdivisions: LHI
The name Planchonella reticulata (Baill.) Pierre ex Dubard has been misapplied to this taxon. Planchonella reticulata is endemic to New Caledonia.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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