Tristaniopsis collina

Tristaniopsis collina, known as hill water gum or hill kanuka, is a tree of eastern Australia.

Hill water gum
Tristaniopsis collina at 1170 metres above sea level, Mount Royal, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Tristaniopsis
Species:	T. collina
Binomial name
Tristaniopsis collina Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh.

The natural range of T. collina is from near Mount Gulaga (36° S) in the south of New South Wales to the border with the state of Queensland at the McPherson Range (28° S). The usual habitat is rainforest away from streams on shallow soils at high altitude. However, it can occasionally be seen at low altitudes such as at Seal Rocks and Chatswood West. T. collina is remarkably similar to the related T. laurina (Water Gum), but the latter species is strictly riparian.

Description

Tristaniopsis collina is a small to medium tree, up to 35 m (115 ft) in height and up to 75 cm (30 in) in trunk diameter. The trunk is irregular, not cylindrical. The bark is grey or creamy, very thin, with papery fibres that come off to touch. Branchlets are coloured purple and angular in cross section. The alternate simple leaves are around 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) long, with a long thin tip, and numerous oil dots of varying sizes. The midrib is sunken on the top surface, but raised below.

Yellow flowers form in cymes from November to January. The fruit is a dry capsule maturing from April to July. The fruit is practically identical to that of T. laurina. The winged seeds are 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 2 mm (0.08 in) broad.

References

• Floyd, A. G. (1989). Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia (1st ed.). Port Melbourne: Elsevier Australia - Inkata Imprint, copyright Forestry Commission of New South Wales (published 1989-12-01). p. 267. ISBN 0-909605-57-2. Retrieved 2009-06-07. (Publication details included in citation)