Lepiderema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lepiderema |
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| Lepiderema pulchella | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Subfamily: | Sapindoideae |
| Genus: | Lepiderema Radlk. |
| Type species | |
| Lepiderema papuana Radlk.
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| Species | |
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See text |
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Lepiderema is a group of nine different kinds of trees. They belong to the plant family called Sapindaceae, which also includes plants like maple trees and lychee fruit. As of November 2013, scientists know about seven Lepiderema species that grow naturally in Australia. The other two species are found in New Guinea.
Scientists are still learning a lot about these trees, especially in New Guinea. The two known species there were described from just one plant sample each. This means there are probably many more Lepiderema trees and species waiting to be discovered in New Guinea! In Australia, these trees grow in rainforests along the northern part of the east coast. You can find them from northeastern New South Wales all the way up to northeastern Queensland.
Some Lepiderema species in Australia share a common name, "tuckeroo," with a similar group of trees called Cupaniopsis.
Protecting Lepiderema Trees
Some Lepiderema species are quite rare and need protection.
- The species L. pulchella grows only in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland. Both governments have listed it as a "vulnerable" species. This means it's at risk of becoming endangered if we don't protect its habitats.
- Two other species, L. hirsuta and L. largiflorens, are found only in northeastern Queensland. The Queensland government lists them as "near threatened." This means they could become vulnerable in the future if their populations decline.
Types of Lepiderema Species
Here are some of the known species of Lepiderema trees:
- Lepiderema hirsuta (also called Noah's tamarind) – This tree is found only in the Wet Tropics area of northeastern Queensland.
- Lepiderema ixiocarpa (Sticky lepiderema) – This species also grows only in the Wet Tropics of northeastern Queensland.
- Lepiderema largiflorens – You can find this tree only in the Bellenden Ker Range within the Wet Tropics of northeastern Queensland.
- Lepiderema melanorrhachis – This species is found only in New Guinea.
- Lepiderema papuana – This tree also grows only in New Guinea.
- Lepiderema pulchella (Fine–leaved tuckeroo) – This rare tree lives in rainforests along rivers in northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland.
- Lepiderema punctulata – This species grows in forests along the central coast of Queensland.
- Lepiderema sericolignis (Silkwood) – This tree is found only in the Wet Tropics of northeastern Queensland.
Scientists have also provisionally named another species, Lepiderema sp. Impulse Creek (A.B.Pollock 73). This tree is found only in the central coast region of Queensland. It's currently awaiting a formal scientific publication to be fully recognized.
