Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis
| Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis | |
|---|---|
| Inflorescence | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Trochocarpa |
| Species: | T. bellendenkerensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis | |
Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis, commonly known as wheel fruit, is a species of plant in the family Ericaceae. It is native to a small part of the Wet Tropics bioregion of Queensland, Australia.
Description
Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis is a shrub or small tree to about 7 m (23 ft) tall. The leaves average about 40 mm (1.6 in) long and 15 mm (0.59 in) wide. They are broadest near the base and taper evenly to a pointed tip at both ends, and they have between five and seven longitudinal veins.[4][5]
White flowers are borne on a spike which may reach up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in length. The flowers have a corolla tube about 2.5 mm (0.10 in) long with five lobes about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long. They have five stamens and a single pistil.[4][5]
The fruit are blue, purple or black drupes, measuring about 8 mm (0.31 in) wide and 4 mm (0.16 in) long and containing contain five to ten seeds.[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs from near Cape Tribulation, about 150 km (93 mi) north of Cairns, to Mount Bellenden Ker and Mount Bartle Frere about 70 km (43 mi) south of the city.[6] It grows in very wet upland rainforest and stunted mountaintop forest above 600 m (2,000 ft).[4][5]
Taxonomy
Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis was first described by Czech botanist Karel Domin in 1928.[2]
Conservation
This species is listed as least concern under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act.[1] As of 17 February 2026, it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
References
- ^ a b "Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis". WildNet. Queensland Government. 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ a b "Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis Domin". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ "Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis Domin". POWO. Plants of the World Online, facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
- ^ a b c d Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-9581742-1-3.
- ^ "Search: species: Trochocarpa bellendenkerensis | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
External links
- Map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- Observations of this species on iNaturalist
- Images of this species on Flickriver.com