Neolitsea

Location & distribution maps

Common name:         . . .

• The Australian species, of which there are three, are commonly known as bolly gums 

Conservation status: . . .

Etymology:   

• The genus name Neolitsea is a combination of the Ancient Greek word néos (meaning "new") and the pre-existing genus name Litsea

• The members of Neolitsea were mostly transferred from Litsea

• Greek neos, new; Litsea, from the Mandarin characters li; plum, and tse, little

Flowers:

• Species are dioecious, with separate male and female plants

Fruit:                            

Leaves:         

• The leaves are alternate, clustered, or verticillate, rarely subopposite

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

Habitat:   

• In Australia they are found in rainforests

Distribution:                  

• They range from Indo-Malaysia to East Asia to Australia

• There are three Australian species and these are fairly common in the rainforests of the east

Additional notes:    

• Many species of the genus Neolitsea have been analysed for essential oils and their biological activity

• Selected species

  • Neolitsea aciculata - a small tree; Japan, Taiwan

  • Neolitsea australiensis - Australia, Green bolly gum

  • Neolitsea cassia - Sri Lanka

  • Neolitsea cambodiana var. glabra synonym Neolitsea hongkongensis- Hong Kong

  • Neolitsea chuii -tree up to 18m, southern China

  • Neolitsea daibuensis - a small tree; Taiwan

  • Neolitsea dealbata - Australia, tree up to 12m, Hairy-leaved bolly gum

  • Neolitsea fischeri - India

  • Neolitsea fuscata - Sri Lanka (unresolved name)

  • Neolitsea kedahense - Malaysia

  • Neolitsea mollissima - Malaysia

  • Neolitsea parvigemma - a small tree; Taiwan

  • Neolitsea sericea - tree up to 15m; Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China

  • Neolitsea vidalii - the Philippines

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolitsea (2024)

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neolitsea_australiensis (2024)