On our August outing to Mt Zero we chose Hakea benthamii as our P o M after finding many specimens, all flowering beautifully and spreading their lovely scent.

Hakea benthamii (Proteaceae) grows as a small-medium shrub (photo above) sometimes up to 4m high. Although its range extends from SE Queensland to near Cooktown, it is sparsely distributed on the coastal ranges and tablelands.

The perfumed flowers are creamy-white with hints of pink, growing in clusters in the leaf axils (photo above).

The fruits are hard woody capsules with an unusual beaked shaped (photo above).

Hakea benthamii was previously called Hakea plurinervia, reflecting the multiple veins in its distinctive leaves (photo above). However, its was subsequently noticed that H. plurinervia had been applied to fossil plants prior to formal description of the living plant, hence the need to change its name (Reference: Ian M. Turner (2014) “Names of Extant Angiosperm Species that are Illegitimate Homonyms of Fossils,” Annales Botanici Fennici 51(5), 305-317)

Greg brought a specimen of Cynometra iripa to our July meeting, possibly the first-ever mangrove species in our group’s long-running ‘show and tell’ tradition – thank you Greg! And the Cynometra iripa Greg has grown at home (photo below) might be the first ever cultivated in a Townsville garden?

Cynometra iripa (Fabaceae), commonly called Wrinkle-pod Mangrove, has a wide natural range along the coast of Queensland and the Northern Territory, typically growing at the landward side of mangrove forests in places with some freshwater inflow.

Cynometra iripa is usually a spreading shrub or small tree like this one (photo above) spotted by Claire and Gavin at Magnetic Island, although it has been recorded up to 8 m tall in some places.

Cynometra iripa has compound leaves with two pairs of leaflets (photo above) or sometimes a single pair. Helpful for identification, the central vein of each leaflet is slightly off-centre (photo below).

Attractive clusters of small white flowers produce woody pods (photo below) that have a wrinkly surface as the common name suggests .

At maturity these wrinkly pods are buoyant and their distribution is assisted by water currents. They are sometimes found washed up at the tideline on our local beaches (photo below).

Two other native Cynometra species have been recognised in Australia, including the new species C. roseiflora found only on the Mossman River. For more details see Cooper, W.E. (2015) A taxonomic revision of Cynometra L. (Fabaceae) in Australia, available here.

On our June outing at Cleveland Creek, we noticed clusters of tiny creamy-white flowers (photo above) on a small tree that presented an ID challenge for most of us. Thanks to John for providing the answer: Pittosporum tinifolium.

Pittosporum tinifolium (Pittosporaceae) is one of several trees commonly called Rusty Pittosporum. This attractive species was previously considered a variety of the widespread rusty-leaved pittosporum complex and named P. ferrugineum subsp. linifolium. Its separation as a species and the correction of ‘linifolium‘ to ‘tinifolium‘ is explained here: https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/69041/cayzer-chandler-austrobaileya-v10s1-p205-206.pdf

Identifying features are described by Cayzer and Chandler (see PDF linked above) as follows:

Leaves elliptic to almost orbicular, thick-coriaceous, upturned, apices rounded or acute; inflorescences multi-flowered stalked umbels exserted well past surrounding foliage. Common and endemic
to coastal areas south of Cooktown, in Cook, North Kennedy and Port Curtis districts, Queensland.

Older leaves of Pittosporum tinifolium are almost hairless/smooth (‘glabrous’ is the proper term) and the ‘rusty’ common name refers to the new growth covered in fine rusty hairs (photo above).

The woody fruits of Pittosporum tinifolium are initially green, becoming yellow to orange (photo above) before splitting open at maturity (photo below).

The genus name Pittosporum is derived from two Greek words meaning pitch (sticky) and seed. Pittosporum tinifolium fits that idea nicely with its bright red, sticky seeds displayed after the orange-coloured seed capsules split open (photo above).

Originally we thought this tree was Corymbia serendipita but it is NOT that species. This tree is Corymbia trachyphloia. More details and photos are available on our updated page for Corymbia trachypholoia.

Currently we don’t have photos for Corymbia serendipita but we’ll add them later if possible.

Guest post by Dr Betsy Jackes with photos courtesy of Rigel Jensen/Australian Wildlife Conservancy

This rare Hibbertia from Taravale has just been named Hibbertia advena by Tim Hammer, Helmut Toelken and Kevin Thiele. The Latin ‘advena’ means outside, foreigner or stranger. This is a reference to the fact this Hibbertia is clearly related to species in southwest Western Australia and not closely related to other pungent-leafed Hibbertia species in Queensland.

Where has Hibbertia advena been found?
At the western edge of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) Mt Zero-Taravale Wildlife Sanctuary, and at one location near the top of the Ben Lomond Mining Lease. Since this area has not been well explored, there are probably isolated populations still to be found.

How do you recognize Hibbertia advena?
It is a much-branched prickly shrub with scattered, linear, pungent leaves and strongly rolled margins so that the midrib on the lower surface is obscure. The flowers are borne on small pedicels (stalks). The 15 stamens are divided into 5 distinct groups of 3 and these groups are inserted between the 5 carpels.

How does it differ from the ferocious Burra Range species, Hibbertia ferox?
Hibbertia ferox has only 2 carpels that are surrounded by 9-10 stamens and the flowers are sessile i.e. without a pedicel. The leaves are similar but tend to be crowded rather than scattered.

Reference: Hammer, T.A., Toelken, H.R. & Thiele, K.R. (2022). Hibbertia advena (Dilleniaceae), a new and rare species from Queensland with transcontinental affinities. Australian Journal of Taxonomy 9: 1–5. doi.org/10.54102/ajt. Illustrations p 4.