Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum

Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum, commonly known as ivory mahogany, is a species of rainforest tree in the family Meliaceae, native to Malesia, Queensland, and some southwest Pacific islands.

Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum
Ivory mahogany near Lacey Creek, Queensland
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Dysoxylum
Species:
D. gaudichaudianum
Binomial name
Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum

Description

The ivory mahogany is a large tree growing up to 36 m (118 ft) in height with a straight trunk up to 80 cm (31 in) diameter. The bark is smooth and often has teaspoon-sized depressions in it. Buttress roots are a feature of this tree and may reach up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) high and 3.5 m (11 ft) wide.[2][3]

The very large leaves are produced in whorls and clustered towards the ends of the branches. They are imparipinnate with up to 14 pairs of leaflets, and measure up to 125 cm (49 in) in length.[2][3] This arrangement produces large spherical clusters of foliage (see gallery).

The leaflets are highly asymmetric at the base with one side of the leaf blade wider than the other. They measure up to 30 by 8 cm (11.8 by 3.1 in)[3]

The inflorescences are thyrses, about 70 cm (28 in) long, and produced in or close to the leaf axils. The flowers are a pale cream or green, 5-merous, with an unpleasant smell. The fruits are a capsule about 3 cm (1.2 in) diameter which is covered in fine brown hairs. They have five segments and contain up to 10 seeds about 1 cm (0.39 in) long.[2][3]

Phenology

Flowering in Australia occurs from September to January, with fruits ripening around October to February.[3][4]

Taxonomy

This species was originally described in 1868 by Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel in the publication Annales Musei Botanici Lugduno-Batavi 4:15.[5]

The genus name comes from the Latin dys meaning "bad", and the Ancient Greek xylon meaning "wood", and refers to the unpleasant smell produced by some species. The species epithet was given to honour French botanist Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Occurs in Malesia, Christmas Island, Australia from the Cape York Peninsula to the Mary River, South East Queensland, and islands of the South-West Pacific, in lowland rainforest to 300m abl.

  • The compound leaf
    The compound leaf
  • Foliage cluster
    Foliage cluster
  • Trunk
    Trunk
  • Clusters of large pinnately compound leaves
    Clusters of large pinnately compound leaves
  • Developing fruit
    Developing fruit

References
  1. IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2019). "Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T156217920A156217922. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T156217920A156217922.en. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  2. F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  3. Mabberley, D.J. (2021). Sandgren, M.; Kodela, P.G. (eds.). "Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  4. "Dysoxylum gaudichaudianum". iNaturalist. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  5. "Annales Musei Botanici Lugduno-Batavi". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  6. Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 288. ISBN 9780958174213.
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