Niemeyera whitei

Rusty Plum
new red leaves of the Rusty Plum
Conservation status
Vulnerable (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Ericales
Family:	Sapotaceae
Genus:	Niemeyera
Species:	N. whitei
Binomial name
Niemeyera whitei (Aubrev.) Jessup.
Synonyms
Chrysophyllum pruniferum F.Muell. Niemeyera pruniferum (F.Muell.) F.Muell. Amorphospermum whitei Aubrev.

Niemeyera whitei known as the Rusty Plum or Plum Boxwood is a rare tree of eastern Australia. It occurs on poorer soils in areas below 600 metres above sea level. Found in gully, warm temperate or littoral rainforests. From the Macleay River, New South Wales to Tallebudgera Creek in south eastern Queensland.

Description

A small or medium sized tree with rusty coloured leaves when viewed from below. Up to 20 metres tall and a stem diameter of 50 cm. The trunk is irregular and fluted, not cylindrical. Creamy grey bark with a corky quality, the bark is not smooth, with round peeling bark, which causes bumps and pits. Small branches thick and covered in rusty hairs. When broken, a white milky sap appears.

Leaves are 5 to 15 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide, alternate on the stem with smooth edges (no serrations). Smooth and green on top, paler below with rusty hairs. Leaf veins prominently seen under the leaf, not so evident on the top. 12 to 15 lateral veins, at about 45 to 60 degrees, angled from the midrib.

Flowers, fruit & regeneration

Creamy green flowers form in clusters from September to October. Parts of the flowers are also a rusty brown. The fruit is berry, 2 to 5 cm in diameter. Initially red, then turning purple and black. Inside is a large seed (rarely 2 seeds), 2 to 3 cm in diameter. On one side of the seed is a glossy scar, 1 to 2 cm long. Fruit matures from September to November. Regeneration takes up to 6 months. Soaking and peeling of the seed is advised for best results, usually all seeds germinate.

References

• Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 2008, ISBN 9780958943673 page 406
• "Niemeyera whitei". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Niemeyera~whitei. Retrieved 2010-03-14.