Species

Homalanthus populifolius

Common Name(s)

Queensland poplar

Authority

Homalanthus populifolius Graham

Family

Euphorbiaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

HOMPOP

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Trees & Shrubs

Habitat

Terrestrial. A pioneer species that grows in gaps or on the margin of rainforests in Australia. It will produce thickets in these situations but canopy trees seem to be able to grow through. This would suggest that it prefers dappled shade but has also been seen growing in quite sunny areas. It is often used to provide shelter in revegetation areas in Australia (John Clarkson, pers. comm.).

Features

Glabrous shrub or small tree up to 5 m high. Twigs rounded, slightly ribbed. Leaves ovate to rhombic, truncate to obtuse at base, acute to acuminate or rarely obtuse at apex, (3)-5-15-(20) cm long, usually turning red in cooler part of year; seedling leaves broadly ovate, truncate at base; petioles greater than, equal to, or less than blade; stipules soon deciduous. Racemes up to 17 cm long, usually with few solitary long-pedicellate female flowers below or at base, and many clusters of (1)-3-4 short-pedicellate male flowers (racemes rarely unisexual, or with 1-2 male flowers clustered with upper females); each group of flowers subtended by a bract and 2 prominent glands. Male flowers: stamens 4-10; perianth segments 2. Female flowers: ovary 2-celled; styles 2. Fruit more or less smooth, grooved between the 2 cells, ridged on keels, glaucous, 8-10 mm diameter (Webb et alo 1988).

Similar Taxa

Can be distinguished from the endemic H. polyandrus by the clustered male flowers and female flowers with 2 styles and 2 -celled ovary.

Flowering

September, October, November

Year Naturalised

1980

Origin

NSW to New Guinea

Reason For Introduction

Ornamental.

Life Cycle Comments

Perennial. Appears to be long lived (George Wilson, pers. comm.).

Dispersal

Bird dispersed (Lisa Forester 1996). Other methods of movement include gravity, water and machinery especially roadside mowers (Tony McCluggage pers. comm.).

Tolerances

Shade tolerant (Lisa Forester 1996).

References and further reading

Gardner, R. 1999. Homalanthus (Euphorbiaceae) in New Zealand and its fruit. Auckland Botanical Society Journal, 54: 6-7

This page last updated on 1 Feb 2013