Cryptocarya smaragdina, commonly known as Dina's laurel,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lauraceae and is endemic to north Queensland. It is a shrub with lance-shaped leaves, creamy green, unpleasantly perfumed flowers, and spherical black drupes.
| Cryptocarya smaragdina | |
|---|---|
| |
| Diagram of Cryptocarya smaragdina | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Cryptocarya |
| Species: | C. smaragdina
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cryptocarya smaragdina | |
Description
editCryptocarya smaragdina is a tree that typically grows to a height of up to 25 m (82 ft) and a dbh of up to 40 cm (16 in), its stems buttressed. Its leaves are lance-shaped, 50–85 mm (2.0–3.3 in) long and 15–25 mm (0.6–1.0 in) wide, on a petiole 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long. The flowers are creamy green and unpleasantly perfumed, and arranged in panicles shorter than the leaves. The perianth tube is 1.2–1.5 mm (0.047–0.059 in) long and 1.5–1.6 mm (0.059–0.063 in) wide, the outer tepals 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and 0.9–1.2 mm (0.035–0.047 in) wide, the inner tepals 1.5–2.3 mm (0.059–0.091 in) long and 0.9–1.3 mm (0.035–0.051 in) wide. The outer anthers are 0.7–0.8 mm (0.028–0.031 in) long and 0.6 mm (0.024 in) wide, the inner anthers 0.8–0.9 mm (0.031–0.035 in) long and 0.4–0.5 mm (0.016–0.020 in) wide. Flowering occurs from September to November, and the fruit is a spherical black drupe, 9.0–11.5 mm (0.35–0.45 in) long and 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) wide with creamy white cotyledons.[3][4]
Taxonomy
editCryptocarya smaragdina was first formally described in 1989 by Bernard Hyland in Australian Systematic Botany from specimens collected near Emerald in 1982.[5] The specific epithet (smaragdina) means 'emerald green'.[6]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species of Cryptocarya is restricted to the Atherton Tableland, between the Tinaroo Hills, the Lamb Range and Koombooloomba, where grows in rainforest, at altitudes between 50 and 1,200 m (160 and 3,940 ft) in north-east Queensland.[3][4]
Conservation status
editThis species of Cryptocarya is listed as "of least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Cryptocarya smaragdina". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Species profile—Cryptocarya smaragdina". Queensland Government Department of Education and Science. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b Le Cussan, J.; Hyland, Bernard P.M. "Cryptocarya smaragdina". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Cryptocarya smaragdina". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Cryptocarya smaragdina". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ Stearn, William T. (1992). Botanical Latin. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 496.