| Queensland maple | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Flindersia |
| Species: | F. brayleyana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Flindersia brayleyana | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Flindersia brayleyana, commonly known as Queensland maple, maple silkwood or red beech,[2] is a species of tree in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to northern Queensland. It has pinnate leaves with between six and ten leaflets, panicles of white or cream-coloured flowers and smooth fruit that opens in five sections to release winged seeds.
Description
Flindersia brayleyana is a tree that typically grows to a height of 35 m (115 ft). It has pinnate leaves arranged in more or less opposite pairs with between six and ten egg-shaped to elliptical leaflets that are 80–185 mm (3.1–7.3 in) long and 30–80 mm (1.2–3.1 in) wide on petiolules 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) long. The leaves have many conspicuous oil dots. The flowers are arranged in panicles 120–230 mm (4.7–9.1 in) long, the sepals about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long and the petals white or cream-coloured, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) long. The fruit is a smooth, woody capsule 60–100 mm (2.4–3.9 in) long that splits into five at maturity, releasing seeds 45–60 mm (1.8–2.4 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy
Flindersia brayleyana was first formally described in 1866 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected near the Herbert River by John Dallachy.[4] The specific epithet (brayleyana) honours Edward William Brayley.[5]
Distribution and habitat
Queensland maple grows in rainforest at altitudes between 30 and 1,100 m (98 and 3,609 ft) between the Daintree River and Rockingham Bay.[3]
Conservation status
Flindersia brayleyana is classified as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[6]
Uses
Queensland maple produces a good quality, decorative cabinet timber and has been used in the manufacture of propellers and plywood in Mosquito bomber aircraft[citation needed] and in acoustic guitars.[7] However most specimens are protected in World Heritage areas, the timber is now in very short supply, and attempts to grow the tree in plantations have failed. Its heartwood is pink to brownish pink whilst the narrow sapwood band is white to pale grey.[8][9] The timber provides very high chatoyance (iridescence or lustre), with an average value above 23 PZC.[10]
References
- ^ a b "Flindersia brayleyana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ a b F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Flindersia brayleyana". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ a b Hartley, T.G. (2013). "Meliaceae". In Wilson, A.J.G. (ed.). Flora of Australia. Vol. 26. Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Study. p. 65. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Flindersia brayleyana". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1866). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. pp. 143–144. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Species profile—Flindersia brayleyana (Queensland maple)". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Maton Timber & Tonewoods". Maton. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Queensland Maple". Timber Species. Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland Government. 2006. Archived from the original on 24 June 2009.
- ^ "Queensland Maple". Eric Meier. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Maple, Queensland". PZC Chatometry (in Italian). Retrieved 27 July 2025.
External links
Media related to Flindersia brayleyana at Wikimedia Commons- Flindersia brayleyana: Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium
