Harpullia pendula, commonly known as tulipwood, mogun-mogun, tulip lancewood, Queensland tulipwood, black tulipwood or black tulip,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Sapindaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a tree with paripinnate leaves, the leaflets elliptic to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, greenish yellow flowers, and yellow to reddish capsules.
| Tulipwood | |
|---|---|
| |
| Fruit and leaves | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Genus: | Harpullia |
| Species: | H. pendula
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| Binomial name | |
| Harpullia pendula | |
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Description
editHarpullia pendula is a tree that typically grows to a height of up to 15 m (49 ft) with a dbh 60 cm (24 in), its new growth with soft, fawn-coloured hairs. Its leaves are paripinnate, 100–300 mm (3.9–11.8 in) long with 4 to 8 elliptic to egg-shaped, thin, leathery leaflets with the narrower end towards the base, mostly 55–105 mm (2.2–4.1 in) long and 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) wide on a petiolule 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long. The flowers are borne in panicles in leaf axils up to 280 mm (11 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long. The sepals are oblong to more or less round, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and covered with hairs. The petals are greenish yellow, 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long, and there are usually 8 stamens. The ovary is covered with woolly hairs and the style is 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long and twisted. The fruit is a yellow-orange to red capsule 13–25 mm (0.51–0.98 in) long, with a single seed in each locule.[2][3][4][5]
Taxonomy
editHarpullia pendula was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria from an unpublished description by Jules Émile Planchon, of plants in the forests of Moreton Bay.[6][7] The specific epithet (pendula) means 'hanging' or 'drooping', referring to the fruit bunches.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editTulipwood grows in dry rainforest on basalt between Coen in Queensland and the Bellinger River in north-eastern New South Wales, at altitudes up to 850 m (2,790 ft).[2][3]
Ecology
editThe larval stages of Deudorix epijarbas feed on this species of tree.[3]
Uses
editTimber
editThe timber of H. pendula is well regarded. Excellent for turnery and cabinet timber. Fine grained, tough, heavy and durable.[5]
Use in horticulture
editHarpullia pendula is a popular ornamental tree. Seeds germinate easily from two weeks to two months.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Species profile —Harpullia pendula". Queensland Government, Department of Education and Science. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Reynolds, Sally T. "Harpullia pendula". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b c "Harpullia pendula". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ Harden, Gwen J. "Harpullia pendula". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Floyd, A. G. (2008). Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia (2nd, Revised ed.). Lismore, New South Wales: Terania Rainforest Publishing. p. 395. ISBN 978-0-958943-67-3. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ "Harpullia pendula". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). "Diagnostic notes on new or imperfectly known Australian plants". Transactions of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria. 3: 26. Retrieved 18 August 2024.