Endiandra sankeyana, commonly known as Sankey's walnut, is a plant in the laurel family Lauraceae that was first described in the late 19th century. It is endemic to Queensland, Australia, where it grows in that state's northeastern coastal rainforests.
| Sankey's Walnut | |
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| Inflorescence | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Laurales |
| Family: | Lauraceae |
| Genus: | Endiandra |
| Species: | E. sankeyana
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| Binomial name | |
| Endiandra sankeyana | |
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Description edit
Sankey's walnut is an evergreen canopy tree growing up to 30 m (98 ft) high, and the trunk may be buttressed.[5][6][7] The leaf bearing twigs are angular or fluted and covered in a fine indumentum. The leaves are dark green above and somewhat glaucous below with a petiole up to 18 mm (0.71 in) long.[5][6][7] They are lanceolate to elliptic to more or less obovate, and measure up to 17 by 9.5 cm (6.7 by 3.7 in).[5][6][7]
The much branched inflorescences are produced in the leaf axils and carry dozens of very small, fragrant, golden-yellow flowers about 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide.[5][6][7] The fruit is a globose to ellipsoidal blue drupe, measuring up to 54 by 41 mm (2.1 by 1.6 in) and containing a single seed.[5][6][7]
Taxonomy edit
This species was first described in 1893 by the Australian botanist Frederick Manson Bailey, and published in Botany Bulletin, a journal published by the then Queensland Department of Agriculture.[3] Bailey's description was based on material collected by E. Cowley in "scrubs of the Barron River".[3]
Etymology edit
The genus name Endiandra is formed from "endo" meaning inner or inside, and "andro" meaning male, which is a reference to the inner series of anthers being fertile.[7] The species epithet sankeyana was chosen to honour J. R. Sankey.[7]
Distribution and habitat edit
Endiandra sankeyana is found from the Cooktown region in the north to the area near Mission Beach in the south,[5][6] with a single recorded sighting another 90 km (56 mi) further south near Ingham.[8] It grows at elevations from sea level to around 1,300 m (4,300 ft), in mature rainforest on a variety of soils.[5][6][7]
Ecology edit
Fruits of this species are eaten by Musky rat-kangaroos and cassowaries,[6] both of which are recognised as important seed distributors for numerous species of plants.[9] They are also eaten by native rodents.[7]
Conservation edit
This species is listed by both the Queensland Department of Environment and Science and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as least concern.[1][2]
Gallery edit
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Foliage and trunk -
Foliage -
Underside of leaves -
Growing tip
References edit
- ^ a b "Species profile—Endiandra sankeyana". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group & Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2019). "Endiandra sankeyana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T158692406A158692408. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T158692406A158692408.en. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b c "Endiandra sankeyana". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ "Endiandra sankeyana F.M.Bailey". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Le Cussan, J.; Hyland, B.P.M. (2021). Busby, John R. (ed.). "Endiandra sankeyana". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Endiandra sankeyana". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 262. ISBN 9780958174213.
- ^ "Search: species: Endiandra sankeyana | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ Dennis, Andrew J. (2004). "Marsupial Gardeners". Nature Australia. 28 (1): 26–33.
External links edit
Data related to Endiandra sankeyana at Wikispecies
Media related to Endiandra sankeyana at Wikimedia Commons- View a map of historical sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- View observations of this species on iNaturalist
- View images of this species on Flickriver
