''Flindersia xanthoxyla'', commonly known as yellowwood, long jack or yellowwood ash, is a species of rainforest tree that is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to eastern Australia. It has

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and ...

leaves arranged in opposite pairs with seven to eleven leaflets,

panicle In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...

s of yellow flowers and woody fruit studded with rough points on the surface.

Description

''Flindersia xanthoxyla'' is a tree that typically grows to a height of with a trunk diameter of . The trunk is cylindrical and straight with grey or brownish grey bark. The bark features vertical fissures, and is shed in small flakes. The smaller branches show distinct leaf scars, with star-shaped hairs on new growth. The leaves are pinnate, long and arranged in opposite pairs with seven to eleven egg-shaped to elliptical leaflets. The leaflets are mostly long and wide, the side leaflets sessile or on a petiolule up to long and the end leaflet on a petiolule long. The leaflets are bright green above, paler below. The flowers are arranged in panicles in leaf

axil A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, fl ...

s or on the ends of branchlets and are long. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

s are about long and the

petal Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...

s yellow or pale yellow, long. Flowering occurs from October to February and the fruit is a woody capsule long, studded with rough points up to long. At maturity it separates into five valves, releasing winged seeds long.

Taxonomy

Yellowwood was first formally described in 1830 by Charles Fraser from an unpublished manuscript by Allan Cunningham who gave it the name ''Oxleya xanthoxyla''. The description was published in

William Jackson Hooker Sir William Jackson Hooker (6 July 178512 August 1865) was an English botany, botanist and botanical illustrator, who became the first director of Kew Gardens, Kew when in 1841 it was recommended to be placed under state ownership as a botan ...

's '' Botanical Miscellany''. In 1927 Karel Domin changed the name to ''Flindersia xanthxyla''.

Distribution and habitat

''Flindersia xanthoxyla'' grows in dry and subtropical rainforest at altitudes between from the

Richmond River The Richmond River is a river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may ...

in north-eastern New South Wales to

Gympie Gympie ( ) is a city and a Suburbs and localities (Australia), locality in the Gympie Region, Queensland, Australia. Located in the Greater Sunshine Coast, Gympie is about north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city lies on the Mary River ( ...

in south eastern Queensland.

Conservation status

''Flindersia xanthoxyla'' is classified as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government ''

Nature Conservation Act 1992 The ''Nature Conservation Act 1992'' is an act of the Parliament of Queensland, Australia, that, together with subordinate legislation, provides for the legislative protection of Queensland's threatened biota. As originally published, it prov ...

''.

Uses

An ornamental tree, it is also planted for shade. It was previously used for timber in the construction of coaches, cabinet making, flooring, tool handles, lining, ammunition boxes, artificial limbs and joinery. The timber has steam bending qualities.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5459444 xanthoxyla Sapindales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Plants described in 1830