Alloxylon flammeum

Alloxylon
A. flammeum, late bud, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney
Conservation status
Vulnerable (NCA)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Alloxylon
Species:	A. flammeum
Binomial name
Alloxylon flammeum P.H.Weston & Crisp

Alloxylon flammeum, the Queensland Tree Waratah or Red Silky Oak is a medium-sized tree of the Proteaceae found in only a few kilometres of the Atherton Tableland in northeastern Australia. Previously known as Oreocallis wickhamii, the initial specimen turned out to be a different species to the one cultivated and hence a new scientific name was required.

Description

Foliage - Stony Range Flora Reserve, Dee Why

In nature this is a rainforest tree which can reach 33 metres in height, though in cultivation 10 metres is more likely. The green foliage consists of distinct juvenile and adult leaf forms. The deeply lobed juvenile leaves are up to 50cm long while the adult leaves (pictured) are 8-25cm long and up to 4.5 cm wide. Occurring in spring, the bright red or orange-red inflorescences are terminal and well-displayed, consisting of up to 50 individual flowers. These are followed by seed pods which take several months to mature.

Cultivation

The showiest member of the genus, A. flammeum has proven to be the most hardy and adaptable, though is not widely grown. It does best in a well drained soil rich in organic material but low in phosphorus with some shelter when young.

References

• Crisp, MD & Weston,PH (1995). "Telopea". In McCarthy, Patrick (ed.). Flora of Australia: Volume 16: Eleagnaceae, Proteaceae 1. CSIRO Publishing / Australian Biological Resources Study. pp. 382–390. ISBN 0-643-05693-9.