''Elaeodendron melanocarpum'' is a species of shrubs or small trees endemic to northern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

. The natural range extends from

The Kimberley The Kimberley is the northernmost of the nine regions of Western Australia. It is bordered on the west by the Indian Ocean, on the north by the Timor Sea, on the south by the Great Sandy Desert, Great Sandy and Tanami Desert, Tanami deserts in t ...

across The Top End to

Cape York Peninsula The Cape York Peninsula is a peninsula located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the largest wilderness in northern Australia.Mittermeier, R.E. et al. (2002). Wilderness: Earth's last wild places. Mexico City: Agrupación Sierra Madre, ...

and southwards to South East Queensland. The species occurs in monsoon forest and drier types of rainforests, commonly along streams. ''Elaeodendron melanocarpum'' was previously included in the genus ''Cassine''; however, now it is considered that only three African species belong to ''Cassine''.

Description

''Elaeodendron melanocarpum'' can grow as a small trees up to 15 m tall, however the more common growth form is a straggly shrub growing in rocky locales. The glossy green leaves are opposite, and oval or elliptical in shape. Flowers are small and white, with separate male and female flowers. Fruits are black and fleshy, up to 2 cm long, with a stony

endocarp Fruits are the mature ovary or ovaries of one or more flowers. They are found in three main anatomical categories: aggregate fruits, multiple fruits, and simple fruits. Fruitlike structures may develop directly from the seed itself rather th ...

. Overall the fruit resembles an olive or a small plum, and this is the origin of the common names for of olive plum, false olive and black olive.

Gallery

File:Elaeodendron melanocarpum flower.jpg, ''Elaeodendron melanocarpum'' flowers. File:Elaeodendron melanocarpum foliage.jpg, ''Elaeodendron melanocarpum'' foliage. File:Elaeodendron melanocarpum fruit.jpg, ''Elaeodendron melanocarpum'' fruit.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q5353116, from2=Q15325658 Sapindales of Australia Trees of Australia Flora of Queensland Flora of New South Wales Flora of Western Australia Flora of the Northern Territory melanocarpum Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller