Cryptocarya triplinervis 

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information:

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Magnoliids  >  Laurales >  Lauraceae > Cryptocarya   triplinervis

Other links:     

Plant  information

Common name:                Three Veined Laurel

• Also, three veined cryptocarya and the brown laurel

Conservation status:  . . .

Etymology:   

Flowers:                  

• Pale green fragrant flowers form on short stemmed panicles from September to December. 

Fruit:                         

• Fruit ripens from February to May. Being a black drupe, 8–12 mm across, with a single large seed inside

• The fruit is somewhat longitudinally ribbed

• Like most Australian Cryptocarya fruit, removal of the aril is advised to assist seed germination

• Around 80% of the seeds will germinate, taking between three and six months

• Plants generally take around 5 years to fruit in Brisbane Qld 

Leaves:         

• Leaves alternate, small and broad with a prominent tip

• Dark glossy green above, paler and hairy below

• Three veined with an easily seen mid vein, which is depressed on the upper side and raised on the lower side of the leaf

• Net veins easily seen on the underside

• Leaves 6–10 cm long. Leaf stalks 10–12 mm long

Stem & branches: 

• A trunk diameter of 60 cm

• The bark is grey brown, mostly smooth with lines of vertical bumps running up the trunk

Roots:         

Habit:        

• A small tree, occasionally reaching 20 m in height

Habitat:   

• A rainforest tree growing in eastern Australia

• C triplinervis var. triplinervis grows in littoral rainforests on sandy soils

• Another variety var. pubens grows at higher altitude by streams, on volcanic or alluvial soil

Distribution:                  

• The natural range of distribution is from Smoky Cape (30° S), near South West Rocks, NSW to the Daintree River (16° S) in tropical Queensland

• It also occurs on Lord Howe Island where it is known as blackbutt

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • The species was formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown

  • Three subspecies are currently recognised:

    • C. triplinervis var. pubens B.Hyland

    • C. triplinervis var. riparia B.Hyland

    • C. triplinervis R.Br. var. triplinervis

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocarya_triplinervis (2023)