Английская Википедия:Athertonia

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Use Australian English Шаблон:Speciesbox

Athertonia is a monotypic genus of plants in the family Proteaceae. The sole described species is Athertonia diversifolia, commonly known as Atherton oak, athertonia, creamy silky oak or white oak. It is endemic to a small part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. A relative of the macadamia, it has potential in horticulture and the bushfood industry.

Description

Athertonia diversifolia is a tree growing up to Шаблон:Cvt tall, the trunk may be fluted and may be buttressed.Шаблон:R New shoots and young branches are densely covered in fine rust-coloured hairs.Шаблон:R The leaf morphology is highly variable − from a simple elliptic shape to deeply lobed, and they may be with or without finely toothed margins.Шаблон:R The overall leaf size also varies considerably, from Шаблон:Cvt up to Шаблон:Cvt.Шаблон:R The petiole measures between Шаблон:Cvt long.Шаблон:R

The inflorescence is a pendulous raceme up to Шаблон:Cvt long, produced terminally, in the leaf axils, and on the branches.Шаблон:R The fragrant flowers are cream to green with 4 tepals, and measure up to Шаблон:Cvt long.Шаблон:R

The fruit is green while developing − at maturity it is a blue (or occasionally rose coloured) lens-shaped drupe measuring around Шаблон:Cvt long, Шаблон:Cvt wide and Шаблон:Cvt thick. The hard, pitted endocarp contains a single seed.Шаблон:R

Phenology

Flowering occurs from February to June, and fruit ripen around August to January.Шаблон:R

Taxonomy

Athertonia diversifolia was first described in 1918 as Helicia diversifolia by the Queensland Government botanist Cyril Tenison White in his paper Contribution to the Queensland FLora, published in the journal Botany Bulletin.Шаблон:R Decades later, in 1955, the Dutch botanist Hermann Otto Sleumer placed it in the genus Hicksbeachia,Шаблон:R where it stayed until 1975 when Lawrie Johnson and Barbara Briggs revised the description and created a new genus, Athertonia, for this plant.Шаблон:R

Etymology

The genus name is a reference to the Atherton Tablelands, where the type specimen was collected.Шаблон:R The species epithet is derived from the Latin words diverto (to differ), and folia (leaf), and refers to the varied leaf morphology it displays.Шаблон:R

Vernacular names

The common names "Atherton oak", "silky oak" and "white oak" are given to this species as a reference to the similarity of its leaves to those of the unrelated English oak (Quercus robur).

Distribution and habitat

Athertonia diversifolia is found in north Queensland from the Cape Tribulation area south to the Atherton Tablelands west of Mount Bartle Frere. Шаблон:R It grows in rainforest, generally on deep soils of volcanic origin.Шаблон:R The altitudinal range is mostly from around Шаблон:Cvt,Шаблон:R but confirmed observations have been made in lowland forest at just Шаблон:Cvt above sea level in the Cow Bay area.Шаблон:R

Ecology

The kernel contained within the hard endocarp of this species is edible to humans,Шаблон:R and is also much sought after by native rats, which often gnaw through the hard shell and eat the kernel while it is still attached to the tree.Шаблон:R The flowers attract a variety of nectar-eating birds.Шаблон:R

Conservation

Much of the original habitat of the Atherton oak has been cleared, and what is left is highly fragmented.Шаблон:R Despite this the species has been given the classification of least concern, by both the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science (DES),Шаблон:R and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).Шаблон:R Whilst the DES does not publish its procedure or qualification details, the IUCN's assessment states that the population of this species is "locally common and stable", and that the "area, extent and/or quality" of its habitat is not declining.Шаблон:R

Uses

The Atherton oak has become widely cultivated,Шаблон:R due to its attractive, glossy, lobed foliage, and its low maintenance.Шаблон:R

Gallery

References

Шаблон:Reflist

External links

Шаблон:Proteaceae genera

Шаблон:Taxonbar