Guioa acutifolia

Guioa acutifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Guioa
Species: G. acutifolia
Binomial name
Guioa acutifolia
Radlk.[1]

Guioa acutifolia is an evergreen tree from New Guinea and coastal areas of eastern Queensland in Australia. Common names include glossy tamarind, northern guioa and sharp-leaf guioa.[2] It grows up to 20 metres high and has smooth, grey bark on its trunk which may be up to 15 cm wide.[3] The sweetly scented flowers are produced between August and October in the species native range[4] Flowers and fruits often appear on immature trees.[2]

The species was formally described in 1879 by Bavarian botanist Ludwig Radlkofer.[1] Although Radlkofer's name may have been based on an earlier description by Ferdinand von Mueller of an acute-leaved variety of Cupania semiglauca, this did not include a varietal name.[1] Mueller's description was based on plant material collected from Port Denison, Rockingham Bay and Mossman River.

Guioa acutifolia is found on beaches and among mangroves as well as at higher altitudes along creeks in the understorey of rainforest edges.[3] In Australia it occurs from Cape York, south to Fraser Island.[4]

Plants are propagated from seed and require some shade until established.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Guioa acutifolia Radlk.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A. et al. (Dec 2010). "Factsheet – Guioa acutifolia". 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 26 August 2013.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Reynolds, S. (1984). "Notes on Sapindaceae, III". Austrobaileya 2 (1): 29–64. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Guioa acutifolia". The Society for Growing Australian Plants Townsville Branch Inc. Retrieved 26 August 2013.
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