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A common tree, growing to 25 m tall and to 10 m wide.
It is found in dry eucalypt forest, as well as wet sclerophyll forests and rainforests in New South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and the north-eastern tip of Western Australia.
In NSW, it is found north of Mt Dromedary, extending up the south coast, commonly found in the Illawarra Rainforest and wider Sydney area, and then spreading into the tablelands and western slopes, found around Narrabri and Boggabri; then into Queensland where it is found over well over half of the State. In the Northern Territory, it is found over about the northern third.
It is found in very moist, as well as, very dry habitats and also found on a wide range of soils. It has a smooth grey trunk.
Alphitonia spp. have simple and alternate leaves. The alternate leaves are to 14 cm long and to 5 cm wide and are dark glossy green above and silvery with fine hairs underneath, elliptic to ovate or oblong in shape.
Alphitonia spp. produce flowers in axillary or terminal cymes with flowers small, with 5 petals and sepals and 5 stamens, surrounding 1 carpel. In this species, flowers are produced in large numbers in axillary and terminal cymes, to about 15 cm long by 3 cm wide; flowers are greenish-white to yellow, less than 1 cm across, somewhat star-shaped, occurring in late autumn and early winter.
Fruits are drupe-like (fleshy peach-like), 10 mm in diameter, black in colour and containing two seeds. They also have a mealy material within.
Quick growing and useful as an ornamental tree and as a fodder plant for both sheep and cattle. It is also used in bush regeneration.
It has a nice broad form overall. In dry areas naturally, the canopy is often sparse but early pruning of young plants in cultivation can likely increase canopy density.
It will need some room to spread out. The foliage is attractive and will lend to rainforest and tropical gardens as well as any medium to large landscapes.
Its wood is useful for tool handles, cabinet work and building.
Useful for creating a dense screen perhaps or covering an undesired area. Likely a useful species if the soil is rocky, poor or the location is densely shady.
There is a large grandiose specimen growing outside the main building at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens at Heatherbrae.
From seed.
This species can resemble species of the closely related Pomaderris. The fruits are a good giveaway to distinguish plants as well as the nature of the venation on the leaves.
Will regenerate from seed bank after fire.
Alphitonia is a genus of about 20 species, occurring through Malesia, Polynesia and Australia. Australia has 6 species, 4 endemic, occurring in Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia. NSW currently has 2 species.
Alphitonia – from Ancient Greek alphiton (ἄλφιτον) meaning “barley-meal”, referring to the mealy red covering around the hard cells in the fruit;
excelsa – from Latin meaning “high”, because of its tall habit.
This species is not considered at risk of extinction in the wild – very common.
Australia National Herbarium – Alphitonia excelsa profile page https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp6/alph-exc.html
NSW Flora Online (PlantNET) – Alphitonia excelsa profile page
https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Alphitonia~excelsa
Wikipedia – Alphitonia excelsa profile page https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphitonia_excelsa
Wrigley, J.W. & Fagg, M.I. (2001). Australian Native Plants – Propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 4th edition. New Holland Publishers, Pty. Ltd. Australia.