Planchonella eerwah is a rare species of Australianrainforest tree in the family Sapotaceae. Common names include shiny-leaved condoo, black plum and wild apple. It is endemic to south eastern Queensland, with a restricted distribution and regarded as endangered.[2]
The tree was first described as Sideroxylon eerwah in 1894 by Frederick Manson Bailey,[3] before being moved to its current binomial name by Baehni in 1942.[4] The species name is derived from Mount Eerwah near Eumundi in Queensland.[5] A genetic analysis of material found that Planchonella eerwah was most closely related to Planchonella cotinifolia, and Planchonella australis was a sister to the two species – the three forming a distinct group.[6]
Planchonella eerwah grows as a tall shrub or small tree reaching 4 to 10 metres (13 to 33 ft) high with scaly bark on its trunk.[5] It has leathery leaves with prominent raised veins which measure 4–14 cm (1.5–5.5 in) in length. Flowers and fruit can be found in any season.[7] The flowers are a cream-green colour and hairy and are about 4 mm long.[5] The dark red-purple to black fruit are oval to globular, measuring 3–6 cm (1–2.5 in) long, with three to five seeds.[7]
^ abcdElliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1997). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Vol. 7. Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. pp. 356–57. ISBN0-85091-634-8.
^Teguh Triono; Anthony H. D. Brown; Judy G. West; Michael D. Crisp (2007). "A phylogeny of Pouteria (Sapotaceae) from Malesia and Australasia". Australian Systematic Botany. 20 (2): 107–18. doi:10.1071/SB06011. hdl:1885/28531.
