White beech
Gmelina leichhardtii, Fam. Lamiaceae
Large, shady, semi-deciduous tree with a cylindrical or flanged trunk and light to dark grey bark. Small trees often have a wrinkled surface with white powdery markings while older trees tend to be somewhat scaly.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Large Tree |
| Family: | Lamiaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple, opposite, entire when mature but toothed when juvenile, ovate or broadly so, 8-18cm long. Somewhat thick and tough, upper surface dark green, more or less glabrous, underside paler, densely hairy with soft, fawn hairs. Venation impressed above but raised and conspicuous below. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
White, Yellow, Purple |
| Flower description: | Large, terminal panicles of white flowers with purple and yellow markings. November to January. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Blue, Purple |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Blue to purple, succulent, globular drupes, 12-15mm in diameter with a persistent calyx. January to May. |
| Habitat: | Littoral rainforest, rainforest. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales. |
| Food source for: | Fruit eaten by the topknot pigeon, wompoo fruit dove and red tailed black cockatoo. |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | Germination is slow, remove the flesh, soak for several weeks, sun dry and soak again prior to sowing. Pale grey, soft, straight grained and durable timber. |
| Information sources: | Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia. |
