Elaeodendron melanocarpum

Elaeodendron melanocarpum
Elaeodendron melanocarpum seedling.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Celastrales
Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Elaeodendron
Species: E. melanocarpum
Binomial name
Elaeodendron melanocarpum
F.Muell.[1]
Synonyms[1][2]

Cassine melanocarpa

Elaeodendron melanocarpum is a species of shrubs or small trees endemic to northern Australia. The natural range extends from The Kimberley across The Top End to Cape York Peninsula and southwards to South East Queensland. The species occurs in monsoon forest and drier types of rainforests, commonly along streams.[2][3][4][5]

E. melanocarpum was previously included in the Cassine genus, however, now it is considered that only three African species belong to Cassine.[1][2]

Description

Elaeodendron melanocarpum can grow as a small trees up to 15 m tall, however the more common growth form is a straggly shrub growing in rocky locales. The glossy green leaves are opposite, and oval or elliptical in shape. Flowers are small and white, with separate male and female flowers. Fruits are black and fleshy, up to 2 cm long, with a stony endocarp. Overall the fruit resembles an olive or a small plum, and this is the origin of the common names for of Olive Plum, False Olive and Black Olive.[2][3][4][5][6]

Photo gallery

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Elaeodendron melanocarpum". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Elaeodendron melanocarpum as Cassine melanocarpa". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  3. 1 2 Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (Dec 2010). "Factsheet – Elaeodendron melanocarpum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Edition 6.1, online version [RFK 6.1]. Cairns, Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), through its Division of Plant Industry; the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research; the Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  4. 1 2 The Society for Growing Australian Plants Townsville Branch Inc. (webpage) http://www.sgaptownsville.org.au/Elaeodendron-melanocarpum.html. Retrieved 16 May 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help); |contribution= ignored (help)
  5. 1 2 Tng, David (16 November 2011). Flora Far North Queensland (webpage) http://florafnq.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/elaeodendron-melanocarpum-celastraceae/. Retrieved 16 May 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help); |contribution= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ Jackes, Betsy (30 Jan 2012). Discover Nature at JCU. Plants on Townsville Campus (webpage). Australia: James Cook University http://www-public.jcu.edu.au/discovernature/planttownsville/JCU_096213. Retrieved 14 May 2013. Missing or empty |title= (help); |contribution= ignored (help)
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