Pentaceras australis
Pentaceras australe is an Australian rainforest tree in the citrus family. Common names include penta ash, bastard crows ash and black teak. The habitat is rainforest by streams, or dry and littoral rainforest. Found between the Richmond River, New South Wales to Gympie in south east Queensland. Pentaceras means "five horns", referring to the five carpels, australe means southern.
| Penta ash | |
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| Penta ash - trunk | |
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| Species: | P. australe |
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| Pentaceras australe | |
Description
A small to medium-sized tree, up to 25 metres tall and a 45 cm trunk diameter. Bark is fairly smooth, grey fawn in colour. Small horizontal lines, and pustules may be seen. Relatively soft, often showing animal track marks on the bark. The trunk is mostly straight and cylindrical, though some larger trees may be flanged at the base. Small branches somewhat wrinkled and fairly thick. Speckled with small pale markings.
Leaves
Leaves mostly 15 to 50 cm long, alternate and pinnate. With 7 to 15 leaflets opposite on the same stem. Leaflets 5 to 13 cm long, 0.7 to 6.5 cm wide. Sickle shaped, oblique (asymmetrical) at the base. Hairless, a paler green below the leaf. The midrib is evident on both surfaces, though lateral veins not so easily seen.
Flowers & Fruit
White honey perfumed flowers form on panicles from June to October, 6 mm in diameter. The fruit is a dry flat carpel around 4 cm long, with a broad wing. Maturing from November to January, though sometimes as late as May. Regeneration from seed is difficult, though root cuttings may be a successful alternative.
References
- Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 2008, ISBN 978-0-9589436-7-3 page 369
- "Pentaceras australe". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 2010-02-03.