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Family : Melastomataceae
It should be noted that this species is still recorded in cultivation and by the APNI and by PlantNet as Melastoma affine.
Distribution from Cape York down to Kempsey.
More commonly found with mauve,purple,pink flowers but also as white.
Often found on the margins between swamp forest and rainforest,in sandy but quite moist soils.Further north in the tropics it grows in highland rainforest along watercourse and roads.
It can also be found in moist eucalypt forest or even coastal heathlands.
A fast growing bushy evergreen shrub - 1 to 3m high by 1.2m wide.It has attractive dark green leathery foliage and contrasting red stems.It has large showy mauve to purple,pink, or in this variety,white flowers which only last a day or two but continue to appear over many months and in some areas all year round.The flowers are followed by blue-black fruit with a sweet edible flesh which stains the mouth.Sensitive to frost and dry conditions but will tolerate full sun.Should be regularly pruned starting early in the plants life to maintain a compact shape.
Suitable for tropical to warm temperate regions where it can be grown in some degree of shade.
In more tropical climates this plant is actually regarded as a weed.
IDENTIFYING AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST PLANTS,TREES & FUNGI - Flickr Group --> DATABASE INDEX
Tags: Australian native plants rainforest plants rainforest flowers flower Melastomataceae Melastoma polyanthum Melastoma denticulatum Straits Rhododendron Melastoma malabathricum Melastoma affine Blue Tongue mgb Native Lasiandra Western Australia Melastoma malabathricum L. subsp. malabathricum Northern Territory purplearfflowers Australian rainforest plants cyrfp Cape York arfflowers Melastoma Melastoma malabathricum subsp. malabathricum nswrfp qrfp ntrfp warfp Australian Rainforest Flowers Flowers Australian Native Flowers Rainforest Flower Australian arfp Australian Rainforest Plant Rainforest Plant NSW Queensland Black Diamond Images Australian rainforest plantscyrfp marginalarfp monsoonarf tropicalarf subtropicalarf lowlandarf uplandarf arffs brownarffs Tropical rainforest flowers Rainforest Flowers Tropical flowers mgbarfp Australian Rainforest Flora Australian Rainforest Fruits Australian Rainforest Seeds Rainforest Fruits Rainforest Seeds
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Family : Ericaceae
Since the article below was written it appears the 2010 Queensland Plant Census as well as the Tropical Plants of North Queensland CSIRO Key both do not recognise Rhododendron viriosum.
asgap.org.au/r-loc.html
Growing in fairly heavy shade on sloping,north facing ground in Bellingen.It seems to like its position.
NAMES OF THE AUSTRALIAN VIREYA SPECIES
Two unique species of vireya rhododendrons have been recognised as being native to Australia. Their natural habitat is confined to a relatively small region of tropical rainforest in North Queensland.
The most obvious difference between the two Australian Rhododendron species is the shape of the corolla tube of the flower - curved in R.lochiae and straight in R.viriosum. The curved form, R. lochiae is from Mount Bellenden Kerr,south of Cairns, while the straight tubed form, R. viriosum is from north and north west of Cairns.
Both species are easily cultivated from cuttings and seed.
Until recent years it was held that there was only one Australian species, this being known as Rhododendron lochiae. Investigation of the taxonomy resulted in the recognition that there were, in fact, two separate species one of which is the plant long familiar to Australian vireya growers and the other a little-known plant from a restricted area in north Queensland, i.e. R. lochiae and R. notiale (Craven & Withers 1996). As the specimen to which the name R. lochiae was attached represented the relatively unknown plant, Craven attempted to have the name R. lochiae conserved with a new type specimen so that stability would be maintained in nomenclature. This was not accepted by the relevant Committee of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) with the result being that a new species, R. viriosum, was described for the species which we used to call R. lochiae (Craven 2002).
The correct name for species first described in 1887as R. lochiae (and recently as R notiale) is now R. lochiae. R. notiale is now a synonym of this name.
The floral emblem of the Australian Rhododendron Society represents the new species, i.e. R. viriosum. The epithet 'viriosum' means robust, strong and refers to the qualities of the plant when used as a parent in hybridising.
members.iimetro.com.au/~mirra/news.html
www.flickr.com/photos/72793939@N00/3067355671/in/pool-484...
See Rhododendron viriosum HERE
www.anbg.gov.au/gallery/rhododendron-viriosum-oconnor-200...
See Tanetahi's comments HERE
MORE Australian Rainforest Flowers
IDENTIFYING AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST PLANTS,TREES & FUNGI - Flick Group --> DATABASE INDEX
Tags: australian rainforest plants Australian native plants rainforest plants rainforest flowers flower Ericaceae R. notiale Rhododendron viriosum Rhododendron lochiae Rhododendron notiale vireya rare plants vulnerable rare plant rare rare and endangered endangered species mgb black diamond images Queensland redarfflowers tropicalarf uplandarf arfflowers qrfp arfp Australian Rainforest Flowers Flowers Australian Native Flowers Rainforest Flower Australian Australian Rainforest Plant Rainforest Plant Australian Native Plant Tropical rainforest flowers Rainforest Flowers Tropical flowers mgbarfp Australian Rainforest Flora
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Family : Myodocarpaceae
Delarbrea michieana is a small, slender understorey tree, closely
resembling a palm with its bare trunk topped by a crown of compound leaves up to 80 cm long. Below these hang large bunches of irridescent blue berries.
Endemic to the North Queensland tropics between Tully and Cooktown from sea level to 1100m.
For this reason it does well on the Mid North Coast and many plants I saw at Misty Glen at Bellingen were fruiting nicely and favoured by the brush turkeys. My own trees are not yet fruiting (April 2008) but can't be far off it.
It is best suited to planting in groups in the shade of larger trees, and requires regular watering.
Australian Rainforest Fruits and Seeds
IDENTIFYING AUSTRALIAN RAINFOREST PLANTS,TREES & FUNGI - Flick Group --> DATABASE INDEX
Tags: Blue Nun rainforest rainforestplants australianrainforestplants australianplants australiannatives australiannativeplants Delarbrea michieana understorey plant araliaceae seeds of australian rainforests mgb qrfp arffs Delarbrea black diamond images Queensland fruits of the rainforest rainforest fruits rainforest fruit 1+galleries Australian Rainforest Fruits Australian Rainforest Seeds Rainforest Seeds bluearffs Australian Rainforest Fruits and Seeds arfp Australian Rainforest Plant Rainforest Plant understoreyarfp understorey rainforests Australian rainforest Australian rainforests mgbarfp Myodocarpaceae
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Family : Fabaceae
Other Common Names : Barbados pride, Coral-wood, Coralwood, Peacock flower fence, Red beadtree, Red sandalwood tree, Red Sandalwood, Sandalwood tree
2 species in Australia-this one considered naturalised.Recognisable by its small hard bright red seeds.
www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=1616
www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=1618
www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/saga_tree.htm
The pink flowers are from another tree.
Tags: rainforests australiantrees rainforest rainforesttrees rainforestplants australianrainforesttrees australianrainforestplants australianplants australiannatives australiannativeplants australia Fabaceae Adenanthera pavonina Red Sandlewood misty glen bellingen mgb Queensland Naturalised Northern Territory Mimosaceae Red Beantree Circassan Tree Zumbic Tree Sandalwood Red Sandalwood Sandal Beadtree Red Bead Tree False Red Sandalwood False Jequirity Coralwood Barricarri Bead Tree ntrfp qrfp cyrfp arfp lowlandarf galleryarf mgbarfp
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© All Rights Reserved - Black Diamond Images
Family : Fabaceae
Other Common Names : Barbados pride, Coral-wood, Coralwood, Peacock flower fence, Red beadtree, Red sandalwood tree, Red Sandalwood, Sandalwood tree
2 species in Australia-this one considered naturalised.Recognisable by its small hard bright red seeds.
www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=1616
www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/stddisplay.xsql?pnid=1618
www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/plants/saga_tree.htm
The pink flowers are from another tree.
Tags: rainforests australiantrees rainforest rainforesttrees rainforestplants australianrainforesttrees australianrainforestplants australianplants australiannatives australiannativeplants australia Fabaceae Adenanthera pavonina Red Sandlewood misty glen bellingen mgb Queensland Naturalised Northern Territory Mimosaceae Red Beantree Circassan Tree Zumbic Tree Sandalwood Red Sandalwood Sandal Beadtree Red Bead Tree False Red Sandalwood False Jequirity Coralwood Barricarri Bead Tree ntrfp qrfp cyrfp arfp lowlandarf galleryarf arfflowers creamarfflowers yellowarfflowers mgbarfp flowers Australian Rainforest Flowers Australian Rainforest Flora
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