Athertonia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Subfamily: Grevilleoideae
Tribe: Macadamieae
Subtribe: Virotiinae
Genus: Athertonia
L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs[3][4]
Species:
A. diversifolia
Binomial name
Athertonia diversifolia
(C.T.White) L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs[3][4]

Athertonia is a monotypic genus of plants in the family Proteaceae. The sole described species is Athertonia diversifolia, commonly known as Atherton oak, athertonia, creamy silky oak or white oak. It is endemic to a small part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. A relative of the macadamia, it has potential in horticulture and the bushfood industry.

Description

Athertonia diversifolia is a tree growing up to 30 m (98 ft) tall, the trunk may be fluted and may be buttressed.[5][6] New shoots and young branches are densely covered in fine rust-coloured hairs.[5][7] The leaf morphology is highly variable − from a simple elliptic shape to deeply lobed, and they may be with or without finely toothed margins.[5][6][7] The overall leaf size also varies considerably, from 7 by 4.5 cm (2.8 by 1.8 in) up to 27 by 13 cm (10.6 by 5.1 in).[5][6][7] The petiole measures between 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) long.[7]

The inflorescence is a pendulous raceme up to 34 cm (13 in) long, produced terminally, in the leaf axils, and on the branches.[6][7] The fragrant flowers are cream to green with 4 tepals, and measure up to 2.3 cm (0.91 in) long.[5][6][7]

The fruit is green while developing − at maturity it is a blue (or occasionally rose coloured) lens-shaped drupe measuring around 4 cm (1.6 in) long, 3.5 cm (1.4 in) wide and 2.4 cm (0.94 in) thick. The hard, pitted endocarp contains a single seed.[5][7]

Phenology

Flowering occurs from February to June, and fruit ripen around August to January.[6][7]

Taxonomy

Athertonia diversifolia was first described in 1918 as Helicia diversifolia by the Queensland Government botanist Cyril Tenison White in his paper Contribution to the Queensland FLora, published in the journal Botany Bulletin.[8] Decades later, in 1955, the Dutch botanist Hermann Otto Sleumer placed it in the genus Hicksbeachia,[9] where it stayed until 1975 when Lawrie Johnson and Barbara Briggs revised the description and created a new genus, Athertonia, for this plant.[7]

Etymology

The genus name is a reference to the Atherton Tablelands, where the type specimen was collected.[5][8] The species epithet is derived from the Latin words diverto (to differ), and folia (leaf), and refers to the varied leaf morphology it displays.[6]

Vernacular names

The common names "Atherton oak", "silky oak" and "white oak" are given to this species as a reference to the similarity of its leaves to those of the unrelated English oak (Quercus robur).

Distribution and habitat

Athertonia diversifolia is found in north Queensland from the Cape Tribulation area south to the Atherton Tablelands west of Mount Bartle Frere. [10] It grows in rainforest, generally on deep soils of volcanic origin.[11] The altitudinal range is mostly from around 700 to 1,150 m (2,300 to 3,770 ft),[7] but confirmed observations have been made in lowland forest at just 10 m (33 ft) above sea level in the Cow Bay area.[12][13]

Ecology

The kernel contained within the hard endocarp of this species is edible to humans,[5][11][14][15] and is also much sought after by native rats, which often gnaw through the hard shell and eat the kernel while it is still attached to the tree.[5] The flowers attract a variety of nectar-eating birds.[11]

Conservation

Much of the original habitat of the Atherton oak has been cleared, and what is left is highly fragmented.[16][17] Despite this the species has been given the classification of least concern, by both the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science (DES),[1] and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).[2] Whilst the DES does not publish its procedure or qualification details, the IUCN's assessment states that the population of this species is "locally common and stable", and that the "area, extent and/or quality" of its habitat is not declining.[2]

Uses

The Atherton oak has become widely cultivated,[5] due to its attractive, glossy, lobed foliage, and its low maintenance.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Species profile—Athertonia diversifolia". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Forster, P., Ford, A., Griffith, S. & Benwell, A. (2020). "Athertonia diversifolia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T112512098A113309090. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T112512098A113309090.en. Retrieved 13 March 2023.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 "Athertonia diversifolia". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Athertonia diversifolia (C.T.White) L.A.S.Johnson & B.G.Briggs". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 F.A. Zich; B.P.M Hyland; T. Whiffen; R.A. Kerrigan (2020). "Athertonia diversifolia". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, Edition 8. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 406. ISBN 9780958174213.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Weston, P.H. (2020). "Athertonia diversifolia". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  8. 1 2 "Helicia diversifolia". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  9. ↑ "Hicksbeachia diversifolia". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  10. ↑ "Search: species: Athertonia diversifolia | Occurrence records | The Australasian Virtual Herbarium". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 4 "Athertonia diversifolia – Atherton Oak". Gardening with Angus. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  12. ↑ "Occurrence record: BRI AQ0663333". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  13. ↑ "Occurrence record: BRI AQ0663333". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  14. ↑ Mast, Austin R.; Willis, Crystal L.; Jones, Eric H.; Downs, Katherine M.; Weston, Peter H. (2008). "A smaller Macadamia from a more vagile tribe: inference of phylogenetic relationships, divergence times, and diaspore evolution in Macadamia and relatives (tribe Macadamieae; Proteaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 95 (7): 843–870. doi:10.3732/ajb.0700006. PMID 21632410. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  15. ↑ "Bush Tucker for North Qld". Yuruga Nursery. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  16. ↑ "Fragmentation". Wet Tropics Management Authority. Queensland Government. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  17. ↑ Scott, Bronwen (2 April 2022). "In the living mosaic of the Atherton Tablelands, mabi forest is being restored". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
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