Acmena smithii

An attractive shrub or tree-myrtle, reaching 30 metres tall. The trunk is often a finely textures conspicuous tan-brown.

It grows along most of the entire coast of NSW, extending into the tablelands and central and northern western slopes (to Mt Kaputar National Park). Extends in Qld to the far north (north-west of Port Douglas), and Victoria (mainly along the east and south coast to Bairnsdale).

It is a common tree in dry and wet sclerophyll forest, usually in sheltered positions near creeklines, as well as rainforest.

In much southern NSW rainforest, it dominates along with Ceratopetalum apetalum (Coachwood) and Doryphora sassafras (Sassafras). It can also be found in vegetation like Blue Gum High Forest in northern Sydney (where it can be a very large tree) and can also be found in coastal heath and shrubland on sandstone to shale soils, along drainage lines or moist areas, usually as a smaller plant.

It has a general lilly-pilly appearance. Can spread to 10 m wide or more.

Acmena have simple and opposite leaves. In this species, they range from broad ovate to lanceolate, about 11 cm long and 5 cm wide, with a prominent drip tip. The large oil glands can be seen with a hand lens. The venation is often conspicuous and helps with identification. Leaves can be slightly glossy to dull.

Acmena have the typical Myrtaceae flower makeup where numerous stamens surround 1 carpel. There can be 4 or 5 petals and sepals. The flowers are produced in terminal panicles which are very showy. The staminate flowers are cream/white in colour but not overly large, yet they are produced in large numbers, about 5 mm long and 3 mm wide.

Acmena has a berry which is white to purple and resembles a very small apple. Somewhat palatable.