Ceratopetalum Sm.

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Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Ceratopetalum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/ceratopetalum/). Accessed 2024-04-19.

Family

Cunoniaceae

Species in genus

Ceratopetalum gummiferum

Glossary

axillary: Situated in an axil.
caducous: Falling off early.
calyx: (pl. calyces) Outer whorl of the perianth. Composed of several sepals.
capsule: Dry dehiscent fruit; formed from syncarpous ovary.
decussate: Leaf arrangement where the leaves are in opposite pairs each pair at right angles to the preceding pair (as e.g. the scale leaves of Cupressaceae).
domatia: Cavity or tuft of hairs that acts as a shelter for insects or other creatures.
endemic: (of a plant or an animal) Found in a native state only within a defined region or country.
hermaphrodite: Having both male and female parts in a single flower; bisexual.
indehiscent: Not opening naturally; remaining closed at maturity. (Cf. dehiscent.)
sclerophyllous: With tough leathery usually evergreen leaves. Typical of trees and shrubs from warm dry climates.
venation: Pattern of veins (nerves) especially in a leaf.

References

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Credits

Article from New Trees by John Grimshaw & Ross Bayton

Recommended citation
'Ceratopetalum' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/ceratopetalum/). Accessed 2024-04-19.

Ceratopetalum gummiferum in flower in late December 2022 at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan, New South Wales. Image Tim Waters.

The eight species of Ceratopetalum are endemic to eastern Australia, with the exception of C. succirubrum C.T. White, which extends into New Guinea (Fortune-Hopkins & Hoogland 2002). Most are tall rain-forest trees, though C. gummiferum is a shrub or small tree of sclerophyllous forest, and is the only one likely to have any chance in our area. Ceratopetalum have opposite, decussate leaves with one or three (rarely two) leaflets, prominent venation and no domatia, and resinous, caducous stipules. The inflorescences are terminal or axillary, rather sparse and subtended by reduced leaves or bracts. The branching pattern is basically decussate, with corymbs or cymes terminating the ultimate branches. The flowers are hermaphrodite and the petals are incised or absent. The fruit is an indehiscent capsule with woody wings formed from the persistent calyx lobes (Hoogland 1960, Fortune-Hopkins & Hoogland 2002, Rozefelds & Barnes 2002).