Gossia pubiflora is a species of plant in the family Myrtaceae[1] that is endemic to coastal central east Queensland. It is a shrub or small tree that grows to a height of 1 to 6 m (3 ft 3 in to 19 ft 8 in) tall.[2]

Gossia pubiflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Gossia
Species:
G. pubiflora
Binomial name
Gossia pubiflora
N.Snow & Guymer
Synonyms

Description edit

The bark is rough and flaky being light brown or gray in colour.[2] Leaves are elliptic to ovate, 1.8 to 5.5 cm (0.71 to 2.17 in) long and 0.8 to 3.3 cm (0.31 to 1.30 in) wide, opposite arrangement, entire margins, oil dots are common.[2] Flowers have 5 petals, petals are yellowish white and measure 4 to 5 mm (0.16 to 0.20 in) in length, hypanthium is cup shaped and is a greenish brown colour.[2] Fruit are globose, 9 to 17 mm (0.35 to 0.67 in) long and 11 to 19 mm (0.43 to 0.75 in) wide, colour is red to nearly black, each fruit contains 1 seed, the crushed fruit apparently smells like methanol.[2]

Distribution edit

Gossia pubiflora is endemic to coastal central east Queensland, which is south of Townsville and north of Rockhampton.[2] Based on the records of the Australasian Virtual Herbarium records, its main population occurs in the Airlie Beach region.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "Qld Government - Environment, land and water".
  2. ^ a b c d e f F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Gossia pubiflora". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  3. ^ "The Australasian Virtual Herbarium".