Alectryon connatus, sometimes named hairy alectryon, is a species of small tree in the plant family Sapindaceae.

Hairy alectryon
Fruit with smooth red arils and black seeds
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Alectryon
Species:
A. connatus
Binomial name
Alectryon connatus
Synonyms[1]
  • Spanoghea connata F.Muell.
  • Nephelium connatum (F.Muell.) Benth.

They grow naturally in Australia, in eastern Queensland from the south-east to northernmost Cape York Peninsula,[2][3] Western Australia, perhaps in north-eastern New South Wales,[3] and in New Guinea.[4][5][6][7] They grow in littoral rainforests, vine thickets, tropical monsoon forests (seasonal rainforests) and similar vegetation assemblages, in the lowlands. In the tropical uplands they are recorded up to 800 m (2,600 ft) altitude.[2][3]

Naming and classification

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European science formally described the species under the name Spanoghea connata in 1859, authored by German–Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller.[1][5] In 1878, Bavarian botanist Ludwig A. T. Radlkofer formally renamed this species Alectryon connatus.[1][5]

Description

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They grow to a small trees 12–20 m (40–70 ft) tall or sometimes as a shrub only.[2][3][6][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Alectryon connatus (F.Muell.) Radlk.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 14 Dec 2013.
  2. ^ a b c F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Alectryon connatus". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). "Alectryon connatus (F.Muell.) Radlk.". Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 476. ISBN 9780958174213. Archived from the original on 2013-04-09. Retrieved 12 Dec 2013.
  4. ^ Conn, Barry J. (2008). "Alectryon". Census of Vascular Plants of Papua New Guinea. (search result listing, matching all starting with "Alectryon", via www.pngplants.org). Retrieved 12 Dec 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Edwards, Karen J.; Gadek, Paul A. (2001). "Evolution and Biogeography of Alectryon (Sapindaceae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 20 (1): 14–26. doi:10.1006/mpev.2001.0952. PMID 11421645.
  6. ^ a b Leenhouts, Pieter W. (1994). "Alectryon connatus (F.Muell.) Radlk.". In Adema, F.; Leenhouts, P. W.; van Welzen, P. C. (eds.). Flora Malesiana (Digitised, online). Series I, Spermatophyta : Flowering Plants. Vol. 11 pt. 3: Sapindaceae. Leiden, The Netherlands: Rijksherbarium / Hortus Botanicus, Leiden University. p. 454. ISBN 978-90-71236-21-1. Retrieved 14 Dec 2013.
  7. ^ a b Reynolds, Sally T. (1985). "Alectryon connatus (F.Muell.) Radlk.". Flora of Australia: Volume 25 (online version). Flora of Australia series. CSIRO Publishing / Australian Biological Resources Study. 25, Fig. 4, Map 25. ISBN 978-0-644-03724-2. Retrieved 14 Dec 2013.