Yellow mahogany facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yellow mahogany
Fruiting small tree, Mossman Gorge, Queensland, 26 Oct 2014
Small tree close-up with cauline, developing fruit capsules, Mossman Gorge, Queensland, 26 Oct 2014
Scientific classification
Genus:	Dysoxylum
Species:	parasiticum
Synonyms
List Alliaria caulostachya Kuntze Alliaria ramiflora Kuntze Alliaria speciosa Kuntze Azedarach ramiflorum Noronha Dysoxylum brachypodum Baker f. Dysoxylum callianthum Merr. & L.M.Perry Dysoxylum caulostachyum Miq. Dysoxylum densevestitum C.T.White Dysoxylum fissum C.T.White & W.D.Francis ex Lane-Poole Dysoxylum leytense Merr. Dysoxylum loheri Merr. Dysoxylum longicalicinum C.DC. Dysoxylum longiflorum Merr. Dysoxylum longipetalum C.DC. Dysoxylum megalanthum Hemsl. Dysoxylum novoguineeuse Warb. Dysoxylum ramiflorum Miq. Dysoxylum richardianum Merr. & L.M.Perry Dysoxylum robinsonii Merr. Dysoxylum roemeri C.DC. Dysoxylum rumphii Merr. Dysoxylum schiffneri F.Muell. Dysoxylum sericeum (Blume) Adelb. Dysoxylum speciosum (A.Juss.) Miq. Epicharis brachypoda (Baker f.) Harms Epicharis calliantha (Merr. & L.M.Perry) Harms Epicharis cauliflora Blume Epicharis caulostachya (Miq.) Harms Epicharis densevestita (C.T.White) Harms Epicharis hyacinthodora Harms Epicharis leytensis (Merr.) Harms Epicharis loheri (Merr.) Harms Epicharis longicalycina (C.DC.) Harms Epicharis longiflora (Merr.) Harms Epicharis longipetala (C.DC.) Harms Epicharis megalantha (Hemsl.) Harms Epicharis ramiflora (Miq.) Pierre Epicharis robinsonii (Merr.) Harms Epicharis rumphii (Merr.) Harms Epicharis schiffneri (F.Muell.) Harms Epicharis sericea Blume Guarea cauliflora Reinw. ex Blume Guarea sericea Spreng.

Dysoxylum parasiticum, known as yellow mahogany, is a species of rainforest trees in the family Meliaceae. The specific epithet parasiticum is from the Latin meaning "parasitic", referring to the idea (now known to be incorrect) that the flowers are parasitic on another tree species.

Taxonomy and naming

Swedish naturalist Pehr Osbeck described this species as Melia parasitica in 1751, before it was transferred to the genus Dysoxylum by Indonesian botanist André Joseph Guillaume Henri Kostermans in 1966. Australian populations were known as Dysoxylum schiffneri.

The Bajau people of Sabah know it as jarum-jarum, while it is commonly known as yellow mahogany in Queensland.

Description

Dysoxylum parasiticum trees grow up to 36 metres (120 ft) tall with a trunk that has a diameter of up to 60 centimetres (24 in) and up to 1.5-metre (5 ft) buttresses. The smooth bark is yellowish to grey-brown. The sweetly scented flowers are white or creamish-coloured. The red-brown fruits are roundish, and up to 4 cm (1.6 in) in diameter. Both flowers and fruits grow directly off the trunk (cauliflory) to near ground level, or off the large branches (ramiflory).

Distribution and habitat

Dysoxylum parasiticum trees grow naturally in Taiwan and throughout Malesia, to New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Queensland. Their habitat is rainforest from sea-level to 2,100 metres (7,000 ft) altitude. In Queensland they are found from sea level to 1,400 metres (5,000 ft), in such areas in the northeast as Mount Bellenden Ker.

Uses

Dysoxylum parasiticum has potential as a feature tree in parks or gardens in areas with subtropical or tropical climates. It prefers acid soils with good drainage and dappled sun or part-shade. The species can be propagated by fresh seed.