Elaeodendron melanocarpum
Elaeodendron melanocarpum seedling
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Celastrales
Family: Celastraceae
Genus: Elaeodendron
Species:
E. melanocarpum
Binomial name
Elaeodendron melanocarpum
Synonyms[1][2]

Cassine melanocarpa

Elaeodendron melanocarpum is a species of shrubs or small trees endemic to northern Australia. The natural range extends from The Kimberley across The Top End to Cape York Peninsula and southwards to South East Queensland. The species occurs in monsoon forest and drier types of rainforests, commonly along streams.[2][3][4][5]

Elaeodendron melanocarpum was previously included in the genus Cassine; however, now it is considered that only three African species belong to Cassine.[1][2]

Description

Elaeodendron melanocarpum can grow as a small trees up to 15 m tall, however the more common growth form is a straggly shrub growing in rocky locales. The glossy green leaves are opposite, and oval or elliptical in shape. Flowers are small and white, with separate male and female flowers. Fruits are black and fleshy, up to 2 cm long, with a stony endocarp. Overall the fruit resembles an olive or a small plum, and this is the origin of the common names for of olive plum, false olive and black olive.[2][3][4][5][6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Elaeodendron melanocarpum". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Elaeodendron melanocarpum as Cassine melanocarpa". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  3. 1 2 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Elaeodendron melanocarpum". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 "Elaeodendron melanocarpum". The Society for Growing Australian Plants Townsville Branch Inc. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  5. 1 2 Tng, David (16 November 2011). "Elaeodendron melanocarpum (Celastraceae)". Flora Far North Queensland. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Jackes, Betsy (30 Jan 2012). "Elaeodendron melanocarpum (syn. Cassine melanocarpa) Black Olive Plum, False Olive". Discover Nature at JCU. Plants on Townsville Campus. James Cook University. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
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