Rank Species | Genus Glochidion Higher classification Glochidion | |
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Similar Glochidion, Glochidion sumatranum, Breynia oblongifolia, Alphitonia excelsa, Sandpaper Fig | ||
Glochidion ferdinandi, with common names that include cheese tree (see below), is a species of small to medium–sized trees, constituting part of the plant family Phyllanthaceae. They grow naturally across eastern Australia, from south–eastern NSW northwards to northern and inland Qld, in rainforests and humid eucalypt forests. Frugivorous birds such as pigeons, figbirds and parrots consume its fruit.
Contents
- Scale bag on glochidion ferdinandi leaf
- Description
- Taxonomy and naming
- Distribution and habitat
- Ecology
- Cultivation
- Uses
- References
Scale bag on glochidion ferdinandi leaf
Description
It grows as a woody shrub or small tree to 8 metres (26 ft), although occasionally reaching 30 metres (98 ft), with flaky brownish-grey bark. It has simple alternate-arranged elliptical leaves 3–10 centimetres (1.2–3.9 in) in length and 1.5–4 centimetres (0.59–1.57 in) wide; the species may be partly deciduous in winter. Flowering may occur at any time of year; the cheese tree has both single female and male flowers, which are found in groups of three. Both sexes are green-yellow, with the male flowers about 0.7 cm and the female 0.5 cm in diameter. The most notable feature are the small pumpkin-shaped fruit, which are green at first before turning shades of white and pink. Divided into segments radially, they eventually split open to reveal bright red 0.5 cm seeds from November to April.
Taxonomy and naming
The cheese tree gains that name from its cheese-shaped fruit. Other common names include water gum, button wood, pencil cedar, and jow-war.
The species was originally described by Swiss botanist Johannes Müller Argoviensis in 1865 as Phyllanthus ferdinandi before being given its current binomial name by Frederick Manson Bailey in 1902. Its specific epithet honours Victorian State Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller.
An uncommon variety, pubens, known as the hairy cheese tree, is smaller, with leaves and fruit finely hairy.
Distribution and habitat
The cheese tree grows in both clay and sandy soils, and is found in rainforest and wetter areas in sclerophyll forest, where it may be associated with such species as bangalay (Eucalyptus botryoides), woollybutt (E. longifolia), forest red gum (E. tereticornis) thin-leaved stringybark (E. eugenioides) and swamp she-oak (Casuarina glauca). The hairy cheese tree grows with magenta lilly pilly (Syzygium paniculatum), broad-leaved paperbark (Melaleuca quinquenervia), and Rhodomyrtus species.
It is found from central Queensland to the vicinity of Ulladulla (35° S) in southern New South Wales.
Ecology
The fruits are eaten by several bird species, including the Australasian figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti), Lewin's honeyeater, (Meliphaga lewinii), olive-backed oriole (Oriolus sagittatus), white-headed pigeon (Columba leucomela), topknot pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus), brown cuckoo-dove (Macropygia phasianella), Australian king parrot (Alisterus scapularis) The pied currawong (Strepera graculina) also eats the fruit but regurgitates them, while new leafy growth is eaten by the rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus haematodus). It also serves as food for the larvae of the shining pencil-blue (Candalides helenita), and the shining- or common oak-blue (Arhopala micale).
The ladybird Scymnodes lividigaster feeds on the aphid Aphis eugeniae, which feeds on the cheese tree.
Glochidion ferdinandi is a long-lived species which may live for 60 years or more. It may sucker or resprout after bushfire. Seeds take 1–4 months to germinate.
Cultivation
It is an easily grown pioneer species useful in bush regeneration and natural landscaping of areas to which it is native in eastern Australia. The species may colonise disturbed areas, and is a fast-growing plant. Plants require ample water but adapt to a wide range of soils and sun or shade. It can be grown as an indoor plant in a bright position.
Uses
The dried fruits, which resemble miniature pumpkins, are found in potpourri and sold as "putka pods".