Hairy alectryon
Alectryon tomentosus, Fam. Sapindaceae
Small tree, often with a crooked trunk and pinkish new growth. Alectryon is from the greek alectryon 'a cock' possibly due to the comb like crest on the fruit of the first species described in the genus; tomentosus from the latin tomentum 'wool, hair, feathers' referring to the dense covering of hairs.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Small tree |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Leaf: | Alternate, pinnate with four to eight leaflets. Leaflets narrowly ovate to elliptic, 4-12cm long with serrate margins and covered in soft rusty brown to brown hairs, particularly on the underside and petioles. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Cream |
| Flower description: | Axillary panicles of small, unisexual cream flowers. Male flowers in spike-like panicles and female in open panicles; late winter to autumn. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown, Yellow |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Brown to yellow, densely woolly capsules with one to three lobes. Seed black and almost obscured by red arils. |
| Habitat: | Rainforest. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales. |
| Food source for: | Fruit and/or seed eaten by the little crow, Torresian crow and the green catbird. |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | A hardy and attractive tree for dry sites. It will often self seed in gardens. Grow from cuttings or fresh seed; germination may be erratic. The red aril surrounding the seed is edible and pleasant to taste. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
