Rhodosphaera

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Sapindales

Familia: Anacardiaceae
Subfamilia: Anacardioideae
Genus: Rhodosphaera
Species: R. rhodanthema
Name

Rhodosphaera Engl., 1881
References

Engler, H.G.A., Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 1: 374, 423. 1881.

Links

Hassler, M. 2018. Rhodosphaera (Anacardiaceae). World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2018. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Aug. 10. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Rhodosphaera (Anacardiaceae). Published online. Accessed: Aug. 10 2018.
The Plant List 2013. Rhodosphaera (Anacardiaceae) in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Aug. 10.
Tropicos.org 2018. Rhodosphaera (Anacardiaceae). Missouri Botanical Garden. Published on the internet. Accessed: 2018 Aug. 10.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Rhodosphaera (Anacardiaceae) in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 09-Oct-10.

Rhodosphaera is a genus of plants in the family Anacardiaceae. The genus includes a single species, Rhodosphaera rhodanthema, which is a rainforest tree of eastern Australia. It grows in sub tropical rainforests and also in the drier form of rainforests. The natural range of distribution is from the Macleay River, New South Wales to Maryborough in south east Queensland. Common names include deep yellowwood, yellow cedar and tulip satinwood.
Description

A medium-sized tree growing to around 25 metres tall and a trunk diameter of 75 cm. The trunk is cylindrical with buttressing at the base. The bark is scaly dark brown.

Leaves are lobed when coppicing or juvenile, somewhat resembling an oak leaf. Mature leaves are pinnate and alternate with six to twelve leaflets, 4 to 7 cm long and 1 to 2 cm broad. More or less opposite each other on the stem, not equal at the leaf base. Leaf shape is elliptic to elliptic lanceolate with a blunt tip. Sometimes with minor leaf serrations, otherwise entire. The leaf's midrib is raised on both surfaces.

Red flowers form in panicles in the months of September to October. Male and female flowers are sometimes on different trees.

The fruit is a shiny dark brown drupe, 1 cm in diameter. Inside the fruit is one flat seed, around 9 mm long. The fruit is ripe from February to June.

Regeneration is fairly slow but reliable. Scraping or filing the seed is advised to assist seed germination.
Uses

The yellow timber is well regarded, being fine grained and attractively figured. Also Rhodosphaera rhodanthema is an appealing park tree.
Rhodosphaera rhodanthema - leaves and flower panicle
drawing by Margaret Flockton
References

Floyd, A. G. (1989). Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia (1st ed.). Port Melbourne: Elsevier Australia - Inkata Imprint, copyright Forestry Commission of New South Wales (published 1 December 1989). p. 66. ISBN 0-909605-57-2. Retrieved 4 July 2009. (other publication details, included in citation)

dosphaera rhodanthema at NSW Flora Online] Retrieved 4 July 2009

Rhodosphaera rhodanthema at NSW Flora Online Retrieved 4 July 2009