Hymenosporum flavum

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information:

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Eudicots > Asterids > Apiales > Pittosporaceae > Hymenosporum flavum

Other links:           

Plant  information

Common name:        Native Frangipani 

• Despite its common name, it is not closely related to the frangipani

Conservation status:  Least concern

Etymology:   

• The genus name Hymenosporum is derived from the Ancient Greek words humḗn, meaning membrane, and sporā́, meaning seed

• It is a reference to the winged seeds

• The species epithet flavum is Latin for yellow and indicates its flower colour

Flowers:                  

• It produces clusters of fragrant flowers from early spring to early summer (September to October) which are about 5 cm in diameter

• They are cream in colour, ageing to yellow and orange

• The flowers attract bees and honey-eating birds and butterflies

• The very fragrant flowers are quite large, about 40 mm diameter with a floral tube up to 28 mm long

• They are initially functionally male, and coloured white with lemon tinges

• Over a period of about 5 days the stigma begins to develop and the stamens curl away

• At the same time the colour deepens until the fully functioning female flower is golden yellow with red/purple track lines in the throat

Fruit:                         

• The flowers are followed by long pear-shaped seed capsules

• The fruit ripen around May

•  It is a dehiscent, two-chambered capsule, black/brown, densely hairy and about 35 mm wide and long

• Seeds are about 7 mm long with a 4 mm wing

• They are numerous, and stacked together to fill each chamber

Leaves:         

•  It has dark green, glossy leaves which are usually around 10 cm long and 4 cm wide

• They range from13 cm long by 4.5 cm wide and are clustered towards the ends of the branches in pseudo-whorls

• At its best, the branches are heavily foliaged and form widely spaced tiers which makes the tree extremely attractive

Stem & branches:         

Roots:         

Habit:        

• It can grow to over 20 m tall in rainforest

Habitat:   

• A rainforest tree 

Distribution:                  

•  Native to Queensland and NSW and New Guinea

• It is the sole species within the genus Hymenosporum, and is closely related to the widespread genus Pittosporum

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • This species was first described in 1854 by the English botanist and illustrator William Jackson Hooker as Pittosporum flavum

  • In 1860 the German born Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller transferred it to the genus Hymenosporum in his work Fragmenta phytographiæ Australiæ

• Cultivation

  • Native frangipani is widely cultivated and usually grows to around 8 m in height although it can grow to over 20 m tall in the rainforest

  • It can be grown in shaded positions, but flowers best in full sun

  • In Australia, the tree is commonly planted in suburban streets, in shopping boulevards and in walkways between tall buildings

  • It prefers a well-drained soil with a high organic content, but is highly adaptable

  • Very young seedlings are easily killed by frosts but if kept in a sheltered position until about 1–1.5 metres high, will thrive in cooler areas, as long as they have access to water during hot dry spells

  • It is included in the Tasmanian Fire Service's list of low flammability plants, indicating that it is suitable for growing within a building protection zone

Sources of information:

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