Kingdom Plantae Family Sapindaceae Rank Species | Order Sapindales Genus Atalaya | |
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Similar Atalaya, Ventilago viminalis, Alectryon oleifolius, Eremophila mitchellii, Dodonaea microzyga | ||
Atalaya hemiglauca, commonly known as whitewood or cattle bush, is a species of plant in the soapberry family. It is native to northern and inland Australia where it occurs from Western Australia through the Northern Territory and South Australia to Queensland and northern New South Wales.
Contents
Description
It grows as a shrub or small tree to 6 m, sometimes 10 m, high, with pale grey bark. It bears clusters of cream flowers from May to October. Its fruits are samaras, 20–40 mm long. It is drought tolerant, suckers freely and provides shade for livestock.
Distribution and habitat
It occurs on sandy and clayey soils, on flood plains, sandy ridges and pindan. In Western Australia it is found in the Central Kimberley, Dampierland, Northern Kimberley, Ord Victoria Plain and Victoria Bonaparte IBRA bioregions.
Uses
Arlperrampwe tree gum is found on the trunk and branches of Atalaya hemiglauca in big globs. Some of it runs down the tree as its hanging there. For bushfood it is collected and made into a lump and kneaded until soft, and is then eaten.
