Assignment/exercise
USC Plant Profile - Rhamnaceae, Alphitonia excelsa
University of the Sunshine Coast
2021
Appears in UniSC Plant Profiles
Abstract
Alphitonia excelsa is a pioneer species that grows up to 18 m tall on well drained soils with foliage reaching near ground level, providing excellent shade (Leiper et al. 2012). It is a widely distributed species growing in open forests, rainforests and eucalypt forests in the Northern Territory and Queensland, and coastal habitats from south-eastern New South Wales to northern Queensland (Australian National Botanic Gardens (ANBG) 2012). The alternate leaves are 14 cm x 5 cm, dark glossy green above and silverish-white on the underside with prominent brown veins below (Leiper et al. 2012). Clusters of tiny cream flowers with five petals and a strong fragrance cover the tree in autumn (ANBG 2012). Dark blue fruits 10 mm in diameter containing two red seeds attract a range of native birds (Evan 2019). The foliage of the soap tree is eaten by blue jewel, indigo flash and fiery jewel butterflies (Evan 2019). Alphitonia excelsa has a wide range of traditional Indigenous uses, as well as its tough timber being used for fencing, cabinet work and boatbuilding (ANBG 2012).
Indigenous communities used the anti-inflammatory properties within the leaves. A mixture of warm water and crushed foliage was used to relieve headaches, sore eyes and treat bites and stings (Evan 2019). Saponin is released from crushed leaves which made a soapy lather in water used to bath in (Evan 2019). The Indigenous used saponin extracted from the fruits and leaves to catch fish as they floated to the surface once it was released in the water (Evan 2019).
Details
- Title
- USC Plant Profile - Rhamnaceae, Alphitonia excelsa
- Authors
- Reyce Hall (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Location
- Latitude: -26.495 Longitude: 153.045; Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve off Doonan Bridge Road, Verrierdale.
- Publisher
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- Date collected
- 25-Mar-2021
- Date published
- 2021
- Copyright note
- © The Author. Reproduced with permission.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99717198902621
- Output Type
- Assignment/exercise; Plant Profile Sheet
- Teaching and Learning
- ENS221; Plant Diversity and Ecology
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