Floydia prealta

Description

A medium sized tree. It grows 15-25 m high and spreads 10-15 m wide. The crown is bushy. The bark is grey-brown. It is wrinkled and has corky pustules. The young shoots are pale green. The leaves are 10-25 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They are alternate and sword shaped. They are dark green and shiny and have a stiff texture. The edges are wavy. The flowers are in racemes 5-12 cm long. They grow in the axils of leaves or from leafless branches. The flowers are 1.2 cm long. They are cream and like narrow tubes. The fruit are woody follicles 4-5 cm across. There are 1-2 seeds.

Edible Uses

The seeds or nuts are eaten.

Medicinal Uses

Darlingia ferruginea contains the alkaloids darlingine, ferrugine, ferruginine and 3α-benzoyloxy-2α-hydroxybenzyltropane.

Distribution

A tropical plant. They need well drained organically rich soil. They benefit from shade when young. They can tolerate moderate frosts. It grows in rainforest in SE Queensland and NSW in Australia. Melbourne Botanic Gardens.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed. Seed need to be sown fresh. Seeds take 3-6 months to germinate.

Notes

There is only one Floydia species.

Synonyms

References (6)

• Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 70:176. 1975
• Flora of Australia Volume 16, Elaeagnaceae, Proteaceae 1. Melbourne: CSIRO Australia (1995) p 417, 418, 313,
• Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 115
• Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 16
• Nicholson, N & H., 1996, Australian Rainforest Plants 3, Terania Rainforest Publishing. NSW. p 31

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