Baloghia marmorata

Marbled baloghia
leaves and male flowers of Baloghia marmorata
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Baloghia
Species:	B. marmorata
Binomial name
Baloghia marmorata C.T.White

Baloghia marmorata is a rare^[1] rainforest plant of eastern Australia. Known as the marbled baloghia.

Distribution

Occurring in a few places in the Big Scrub, such as Victoria Park Nature Reserve and Davis Scrub Nature Reserve, and as far north as Gympie in the state of Queensland. The habitat is sub tropical rainforest at low altitude on red brown basaltic soils,^[2] with a high rainfall.

Description

A small tree reaching 8 metres in height and a trunk diameter of 8 cm. The trunk is usually straight with fairly smooth bark, creamy and green with some brown vertical streaks. Small branches are smooth and slender, green near the leaves.

Leaves are alternate on the stem, not toothed. Lanceolate to reverse ovate in shape, glossy green. 8 to 15 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide.^[3] A pair of glands occurs on the edge of the leaf, about 5 mm from where the stalk joins the leaf. Leaf stalks 2 to 4 cm long, with a grooved channel on the upper side.

Creamy flowers occur in the months of July to September. Male and female flowers form on separate racemes. The fruit matures from August to October, being a fawn capsule around 2 cm in diameter. Three or four celled with a single round seed about 1.5 cm long. It is coloured dark red with cream spots, giving a marbled appearance. Regeneration from seed is not well known, however, cuttings strike well.

References