Harpullia hillii
Leaves and fruits, City Botanic Gardens Brisbane
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Harpullia
Species:
H. hillii
Binomial name
Harpullia hillii
Occurrence data from AVH

Harpullia hillii, commonly known as blunt-leaved tulip or oblong-leaved tulip, is a tree in the family Sapindaceae, endemic to eastern Australia.[1][2][3] It occurs in dry rainforest from the Burdekin River in Queensland southwards to Wauchope, New South Wales.[4]

The species was formally described in 1859 by Victorian government botanist Ferdinand von Mueller based on plant material collected by Walter Hill, first superintendent of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens.[2]

The species is cultivated for its dense foliage and ornamental, but inedible, berries. It prefers a partially shaded situation, protected from frost. Plants may be propagated from fresh seeds pre-soaked in water.[3]

Botany

Although the species may grow to 20 metres high, most trees are less than 10 metres high.[3] Each leaf comprises 4 to 12 leaflets, that are oblong or elliptic oblong and between 5 and 15 cm long and 2 to 6 cm wide.[4] White flowers with petals 10–12 mm long appear in panicles that are 10–25 cm long.[1]

Orange fruit positioned above the persistent sepals follow, they are 25–30 mm in diameter and 12–14 mm long. The fruit becomes woody with age. The glossy black seeds protrude from red arils.[1][3]

Ecology

The larvae of the Common Pencilled-blue butterfly (Candalides absimilis) feed on the species.[5]

Harpullia hillii was depicted, together with Mackinlaya macrosciadea, in a watercolour by botanical illustrator Ellis Rowan in 1887.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Harden, G.J. "Harpullia hillii F.Muell". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Harpullia hillii". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Harpullia hillii (Sapindaceae); Blunt-leaved tulip". Brisbane Rainforest Action and Information Network. Archived from the original on 16 May 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  4. 1 2 "Harpullia hillii". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  5. ↑ "Species Candalides absimilis (C. Felder, 1862)". Australian Faunal Directory. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. ↑ "Harpullia hillii F.v. Mueller, Mackinlaya macrosciadia F.v. Mueller, Mackay [picture]". Digital Pictures Collection. National Library of Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
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