Scientific Name : Lophostemon confertus (R. Br.) Peter G. Wilson & J. T. Waterh.
Common Name : Brisbane Box, Queensland Box
Chinese Name : 紅膠木
Family : MYRTACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origins | Australia. |
|---|---|
| Origins of the name | The species is very common in areas from Queensland to New South Wales in Australia, including Brisbane, hence giving it the English names “Brisbane Box” and “Queensland Box”. The scientific name of the Brisbane Box is quite interesting. The stamens of the Brisbane Box are often fused into 5 bundles, which are unique and extremely special in shape. Its genus name, “Lophostemon”, contains two words - “lopho (crested)” and “stemon (stamen)”, which come together to describe the appearance of stamens mimicking crested feathers on the head of a bird. Meanwhile, the species epithet “confertus” means “dense”. |
| Applications | The Brisbane Box grows rapidly and has high adaptability, enabling it to thrive even in harsh environments. It is one of the pioneer species which can be applied in afforestation and reforestation. In Hong Kong, the Brisbane Box, Taiwan Acacia (Acacia confusa Merr.), and Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) have been used for large-scale afforestation. Together, the three species had been named “The Three Treasures for Afforestation” and are still quite common in country parks. Furthermore, the Brisbane Box is an excellent street tree and has been planted in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Yunnan provinces in China. Apart from being made into furnitures, its wood has also been used as flooring timber and wharf decking in Australia. |
| Ecology | The Brisbane Box provides shelters for termites. Previously, two termite species have been discovered inside the Brisbane Box in Hong Kong, namely Ahmaditermes choui Ping et Tong, 1989 and Nasutitermes choui Ping et Xu, 1989. |
| Growing habit | Evergreen tree. |
|---|---|
| Height | To 20 m. |
| Stems | Bark of trunk blackish brown, rigid, peeling off but more or less persistent. Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) of main trunk to 50 cm. Branchlets flattened and ridged when young, turn terete later. |
| Leaves | Oblong to ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate, base cuneate, leathery. Often clustered at apex of branches into pseudo-whorls. Dark green with pellucid oily dots adaxially, greyish white abaxially. Lateral veins 12 to 18 pairs, slightly raised abaxially, reticulate veins conspicuous. Petioles flattened. |
| Flowers | Inflorescences axillary, 3- to 7- flowered. Petals white, obovate-orbicular. Stamens many, base of filament often fused into 5 bundles, often opposite to petals. The shape of stamens mimics the tuft of feathers on the head of birds. Hypanthium obconic, sepals triangular. |
| Fruits | Capsules hemispherical, apex truncate, valves enclosed. |
| Flowering period | May to July in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | August to September in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=3064
Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Lophostemon confertus (R. Brown) Peter G. Wilson & J. T. Waterhouse
― Plants of the World Online : Lophostemon confertus (R.Br.) Peter G.Wilson & J.T.Waterh.