''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' is an

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

rainforest tree growing from the

Shoalhaven River The Shoalhaven River is a perennial stream, perennial river that rises from the Southern Tablelands and flows into an open mature wind wave, wave dominated estuary#Lagoon-type or bar-built, barrier estuary near Nowra on the South Coast, New Sou ...

(34° S) in

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to Herberton (17° S) in north

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

. It is also native to

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and to

Java Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...

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, and the

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. Common names include Snow-wood, Tulip Siris and Monkey's Earrings. It is the sole species in genus ''Pararchidendron''. The habitat of the Snow-wood is tropical, sub-tropical, warm temperate, littoral and riverine rainforest. Like most legume species, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen in the soil via its symbiotic partnership with root bacteria - trading the bacteria starches in exchange for nitrogen. It can be seen growing on sand within earshot of

Seven Mile Beach, New South Wales Seven Mile Beach is a long beach with significant historical importance, located just south of Gerringong in the Shoalhaven area of New South Wales, Australia. History In 1933, Seven Mile Beach was used by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith as the ...

Description

Snow-wood is a small to medium-sized tree, reaching 15 metres in height and a 35 cm in trunk diameter. The reddish trunk and lacy pinnate leaves give a pleasing appearance. The trunk of ''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' is cylindrical, and not buttressed at the base. The bark is dark reddish brown patterned with corky pustules.

Leaves

The leaves are alternate and

bipinnate The following terms are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade is divided into two or more leaflets ...

. The main leaf stalk has one to three pairs of secondary leaf stalks, opposite or nearly so on the main stalk. Five to eleven leaflets alternatively arranged on the secondary leaf stalks. Leaves entire, lanceolate, four to five cm long, 13 to 20 mm broad. The tip tapers to a point, the leaf base is

oblique Oblique may refer to: * an alternative name for the character usually called a slash (punctuation) ( / ) *Oblique angle, in geometry * Oblique triangle, in geometry * Oblique lattice, in geometry * Oblique leaf base, a characteristic shape of the ...

. Smooth and green both surfaces, slightly paler below. Leaf venation is obvious, with a raised midrib evident on both upper and lower sides.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers fluffy white or greenish, fragrant, though later turning yellow. Flowering period is from October to January. The fruit pod matures from February to June. Resembling

Acacia ''Acacia'', commonly known as wattles or acacias, is a genus of about of shrubs and trees in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the pea family Fabaceae. Initially, it comprised a group of plant species native to Africa, South America, and Austral ...

fruit pods. Very twisted, and flattened. Seeds are black, shiny and mostly flat, oval in shape. Scarification of the seeds is advised to assist germination, which is slow but fairly reliable.

Varieties

Four varieties are accepted: *''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' var. ''junghuhnianum'' *''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' var. ''novoguineense'' *''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' var. ''pruinosum'' *''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' var. ''sumbawaense''

References

* Floyd, A.G., ''Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia'', Inkata Press 1989, {{Taxonbar, from1= Q7135796, from2=Q7135805 Mimosoids Fabales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Trees of Australia Flora of New Guinea Flora of Java Flora of the Lesser Sunda Islands Flora of Sulawesi Plants described in 1844 Monotypic Fabaceae genera