Stenocarpus sinuatus

Stenocarpus sinuatus, known as the firewheel tree, is an Australian rainforest tree in the Protea family. The range of natural distribution is in various rainforest types from the Nambucca River (30° S) in New South Wales to the Atherton Tableland (17° S) in tropical Queensland. However, Stenocarpus sinuatus is widely planted as an ornamental tree in other parts of Australia and in different parts of the world.

Firewheel tree
flowers of Stenocarpus sinuatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Stenocarpus
Species:
S. sinuatus
Binomial name
Stenocarpus sinuatus
(Loudon) Endl.

Other common names include White Beefwood, Queensland Firewheel Tree, Tulip Flower, White Oak and White Silky Oak.

Description

A medium to large tree, up to 40 metres tall and 75 cm in trunk diameter. The bark is greyish brown, not smooth and irregular. The base of the cylindrical trunk is flanged.

Leaves alternate and variable in shape, simple or pinnatifid, the leaf margins wavy. 12 to 20 cm long. Leaf venation is clearly seen above and below the leaf. Leaves are characteristic and easily identified as part of the Protea family.

The ornamental flowers are bright red in umbels, in a circular formation, hence the name Firewheel Tree. Flowers form mostly between February to March. The fruit is a follicle, in a boat shape, 5 to 10 cm long. Inside are many thin seeds 12 mm long. Fruit matures from January to July.

Regeneration from fresh seed occurs speedily. Cuttings also strike well.

Uses

A popular ornamental tree

In art

The flower (as Wheel Flower) is the subject of some of Margaret Preston's most popular prints

References
    • Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 1989, ISBN 0-909605-57-2 page 298
    • Stenocarpus sinuatus at NSW Flora Online Retrieved on 21 June 2009
    • "Stenocarpus sinuatus". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
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