Opisthiolepis

Opisthiolepis is a genus of a sole described species of large trees, constituting part of the plant family Proteaceae.[1] The species Opisthiolepis heterophylla most commonly has the names of blush silky oak, pink silky oak, brown silky oak and drunk rabbit.[1][2]

Opisthiolepis
O. heterophylla,
leaf undersides highlighted
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Subfamily: Grevilleoideae
Tribe: Embothrieae
Subtribe: Hakeinae
Genus: Opisthiolepis
L.S.Sm.
Species:
O. heterophylla
Binomial name
Opisthiolepis heterophylla
L.S.Sm.[1][2]

These large trees, up to 30 m (100 ft) tall, are endemic to the rainforests of the wet tropics region of north eastern Queensland, Australia. While restricted to this region, within their range they occur widely in rainforests, more common in the tablelands and mountains and described as common on the Atherton Tableland.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

Queensland botanist Lindsay Smith named the species in 1952, from a collection from the Atherton area in the Cook District.[1][2] Material had been collected earlier by C.T. White in 1918, but lacked flowers or fruit.[3]

They are reported to share their evolutionary closest correlates with the genera Buckinghamia, Finschia, Grevillea and Hakea in the subtribe Hakeinae.[4][5][6] The genetics studies, still at an early stage, suggest Opisthiolepis may represent the continuing living lineage of the ancient branch off from near the base or from before the base of the entire present day subtribe Hakeinae.[4][6][7]

Description

Opisthiolepis heterophylla grows as a tree to 30 m (100 ft) tall with a trunk diameter of 75 cm (30 in).[3] Oval or oblong in shape,[1] the adult leaves are anywhere from 2 to 23 cm long by 2 to 9 cm wide. They have bronze undersurfaces.[2] The flower spikes, known as inflorescences, are racemes 3 to 15 cm (1.2–6 in) long, bearing small white flowers.[1][8]

Distribution and habitat

Found from sea level to 1150 m, Opisthiolepis heterophylla is endemic to northeastern Queensland. It generally grows on basalt soils on slopes and elevated areas,[2] in rainforest.[1]

Cultivation

Opisthiolepis heterophylla grows quickly in cultivation, one specimen in John Wrigley's garden in Coffs Harbour reaching 6 m (20 ft) high and flowering in four years.[3]

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References
  1. Foreman, Don B. (1995). "Opisthiolepis". In McCarthy, Patrick (ed.). Flora of Australia: Volume 16: Eleagnaceae, Proteaceae 1 (online version). Flora of Australia series. CSIRO Publishing / Australian Biological Resources Study. pp. 373–374, Figs 131, 168, Map 423. ISBN 978-0-643-05692-3.
  2. Hyland, B. P. M.; Whiffin, T.; Zich, F. A.; et al. (Dec 2010). "Factsheet – Opisthiolepis heterophylla". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants (6.1, online version RFK 6.1 ed.). 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 4 Apr 2013.
  3. Wrigley, John; Fagg, Murray (1991). Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. pp. 465–66. ISBN 0-207-17277-3.
  4. Weston, Peter H.; Barker, Nigel P. (2006). "A new suprageneric classification of the Proteaceae, with an annotated checklist of genera" (PDF). Telopea. 11 (3): 314–344. doi:10.7751/telopea20065733. Retrieved 4 Apr 2013.
  5. Sauquet, Hervé; Weston, Peter H.; et al. (6 Jan 2009). "Contrasted patterns of hyperdiversification in Mediterranean hotspots". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 106 (1): 221–225. Bibcode:2009PNAS..106..221S. doi:10.1073/pnas.0805607106. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 2629191. PMID 19116275.
  6. Mast, Austin R.; Milton, Ethan F.; et al. (1 Mar 2012). "Time-calibrated phylogeny of the woody Australian genus Hakea (Proteaceae) supports multiple origins of insect-pollination among bird-pollinated ancestors". American Journal of Botany. 99 (3): 472–487. doi:10.3732/ajb.1100420. PMID 22378833. Retrieved 4 Apr 2013.
  7. Duchene, David; Bromham, Lindell (13 Mar 2013). "Rates of molecular evolution and diversification in plants: chloroplast substitution rates correlate with species-richness in the Proteaceae". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 13: 65. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-13-65. ISSN 1471-2148. PMC 3600047. PMID 23497266.
  8. Opisthiolepis heterophylla
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