Opisthiolepis


Opisthiolepis is a monotypic genus of trees in the macadamia family Proteaceae. The sole species is Opisthiolepis heterophylla, commonly known as blush silky oak, pink silky oak, brown silky oak or drunk rabbit. It was first described in 1952 and is endemic to a small part of northeastern Queensland, Australia.

Description

Opisthiolepis heterophylla is an evergreen tree growing up to tall with a trunk diameter of. The leaves are usually simple on mature trees and oblong to elliptic in shape. They measure up to long by wide and are carried on petioles up to long. The leaves are glossy green above and silvery white or brown below. Like many other species in the Protoeaceae family, the leaves vary in shape considerably and may also be compound with up to 18 leaflets.
The inflorescence is a pendant spike produced in the leaf axils. It measures up to and carries numerous small flowers in pairs. The flowers are sessile and glabrous and have 4 white or cream tepals up to long.
The fruit is a green or brown woody follicle measuring about and containing several winged brown seeds.

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first described by the Queensland botanist Lindsay Stuart Smith, based on a number of collections of material during the first half of the 20th century. Most collections were from the Atherton Tablelands with the exception of two – one from Mena Creek and another from the area that is now Kirrama National Park.
Smith published his paper, titled "Opisthiolepis, a new genus of Proteaceae from Queensland" in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland in 1952.
The species is reported to share its evolutionary closest correlates with the genera Buckinghamia, Finschia, Grevillea and Hakea in the subtribe Hakeinae. The genetics studies, still at an early stage, suggest Opisthiolepis may represent the continuing living lineage of the ancient branch off from near the base or from before the base of the entire present day subtribe Hakeinae.

Etymology

The genus name Opisthiolepis is derived from the Ancient Greek words ὄπισθεν meaning back or behind, and λεπίς meaning scale or flake. It is a reference to the single nectar gland in the flower. The species epithet heterophylla is also from Ancient Greek, and is a combination of héteros, different, and φύλλον, leaf, which alludes to the different forms of the juvenile and mature leaves.

Distribution and habitat

Opisthiolepis heterophylla is endemic to northeastern Queensland and is found in the area from near Cardwell north to about Mossman. It grows in rainforest, on various soil types but grows best on those derived from basalt. The altitudinal range is from near sea level to about.

Conservation

This species is listed by both the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern.

Cultivation

The blush silky oak grows quickly in cultivation, one specimen in John Wrigley's garden in Coffs Harbour reaching high and flowering in four years.