Angophora hispida

Dwarf apple grows as a small tree or mallee to {{convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} high. It has greyish flaky bark. Like other members of the genus Angophora and unlike other eucalypts, the leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem.{{cite book |author1=Fairley, Alan |author2=Moore, Philip |title=Native Plants of the Sydney District:An Identification Guide |year=2000 |edition= 2nd|publisher=Kangaroo Press |pages=194–95 |location=Kenthurst, NSW |isbn=0-7318-1031-7}} Sitting on petiole 0–4 mm long, the leaves are ovate to elliptic in shape, and measure {{convert|5|–|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} in length and {{convert|3|–|4.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} across, with a blunt rounded apex, and a cordate (heart-shaped) base. They are pale yellow-green above and greyish on their undersurface. New growth is covered in reddish hairs. Flowering takes place from November to January. The showy creamy-white flower heads are terminal and umbellate, each composed of three to seven flowers on {{convert|0.8|–|3.2|cm|in|abbr=on}} long pedicels, which in turn branch off from a {{convert|1.5|–|7|cm|in|abbr=on}} long peduncle. Like the new leaves and stems, developing buds are covered in reddish hair. Globular in shape with longitudinal ribbing, they grow to a diameter of {{convert|0.9|–|1.3|cm|in|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |title=Angophora hispida |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/entities/angophora_hispida.htm |publisher=Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research |access-date=5 June 2020}}

The flowers fall leaving the cup-shaped woody seed pods or fruit, which measure {{convert|1.5|–|2.6|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1.3|–|2|cm|in|abbr=on}} in diameter. These shed the mature seed in February and March. The oval-shaped seeds are brown and flat, measuring {{convert|0.8|–|1|cm|in|abbr=on}} long.

Common names include dwarf apple and scrub apple,{{cite journal |last=Benson |first=Doug |author2=McDougall, Lyn |year=1998|title=Ecology of Sydney plant species:Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae |journal=Cunninghamia |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=809–987 |url=http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/58049/Cun5Ben808.pdf}} and banda in the Cadigal language.{{NSW Flora Online|genus=Angophora |species=hispida|author=Hill, Ken}}

Loddiges Nursery called it the Rough Metrosideros after the dwarf apple was described by James Edward Smith in 1797 as Metrosideros hispida, having been collected by Surgeon-General of New South Wales, John White in 1795.{{APNI | name = Metrosideros hispida Sm. | id = 10934}} Antonio José Cavanilles also described it the same year as Angophora cordifolia, having been collected somewhere near the shoreline in Port Jackson.{{APNI | name = Angophora cordifolia Cav. | id = 37754}} The latter name remained in use until 1976, when A. hispida was erected by Don Blaxell,{{APNI | name = Angophora hispida (Sm.) Blaxell | id = 37817}} who had established that Smith's name had been published four months earlier in May (contrasting with Cavanillles in September) of 1797.{{cite journal|last=Blaxell|first=Don F.|year=1976|title=Angophora hispida, a New Name for A. cordifolia (Myrtaceae)|journal=Kew Bulletin|volume=31|issue=2|pages=272|jstor=4109173|doi=10.2307/4109173}}

Smith had been sent a specimen by Surgeon-General White, which flowered in 1798. He went on to publish a fuller description accompanied by an illustration by James Sowerby in 1805.

Kevin Thiele and Pauline Ladiges published a phylogenetic study based on morphology and came up with the smudgy apple (Angophora woodsiana) as the dwarf apple's closest relative.{{Cite journal | last1 = Thiele | first1 = Kevin | last2 = Ladiges | first2 = Pauline Y. | doi = 10.1111/j.1096-0031.1988.tb00466.x | title = A Cladistic Analysis of Angophora Cav. (Myrtaceae) | journal = Cladistics | volume = 4 |issue = 1| pages = 23–42 | year = 1988 | pmid = 34933494 | s2cid = 85721641 | doi-access = free }} Brooker and colleagues consider it to be more closely related to the broad-leaved apple (A. subvelutina).

More recently, genetic work has been published showing Angophora to be more closely related to Eucalyptus than Corymbia, and the name Eucalyptus hispida has been proposed for this species if it were to be placed in the eucalypt genus.{{APNI | name = Eucalyptus hispida (Sm.) Brooker | id = 224036}}

Hybrids with Angophora costata and A. bakeri have been recorded.

Dwarf apple is found only in the Sydney Basin, as far south as O’Hares Creek off the Georges River, on dry sandstone soils low in nutrients. The associated plant communities are heath, scrubland or open woodland, with such species as scribbly gums (Eucalyptus racemosa and E. haemastoma), red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera), narrow-leaved apple (Angophora bakeri), heath banksia (Banksia ericifolia), rusty banksia (B. oblongifolia), silver banksia (B. marginata), conesticks (Petrophile pulchella), scrub sheoak (Allocasuarina distyla), wax flower (Eriostemon australasius) and parrot pea (Dillwynia floribunda). It grows from sea level to an altitude of {{convert|300|m|ft|abbr=on}} and with an annual rainfall of {{convert|800|to|1600|mm|in|abbr=on}}.

File:Angophora hispida beetles 2 orig.JPG

Dwarf apple regenerates from bushfire by resprouting from its woody base, known as a lignotuber, or epicormic shoots. It can flower within a year of being burnt and plays an important role as a food source for nectar-eating insects after bushfire.

The flowers attract birds, such as the noisy miner and wattlebirds, and a wide variety of insects, including honeybees, native bees, flies, moths and butterflies, and a wide array of beetles, including the rose chafer (Eupoecila australasiae), green-velvet flower chafer (Glycyphana brunnipes), the variable jewel beetle (Temognatha variabilis), the cowboy beetle (Chondropyga dorsalis), and a scarab beetle Bisallardiana gymnopleura, as well as members of the scarab genus Phyllotocus and soldier beetle genus Telephorus.

The dwarf apple is a host for larvae of froghoppers, known as spittlebugs.

Angophora hispida has been recorded as a host for the mistletoe species Muellerina eucalyptoides.{{cite journal|last=Downey|first=Paul O.|year=1998|title=An inventory of host species for each aerial mistletoe species (Loranthaceae and Viscaceae) in Australia|journal=Cunninghamia|volume=5|issue=3|pages=685–720|url=https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/58041/Cun5Dow685.pdf}}

This is a small tree suitable for larger gardens, its red new growth and profuse white flowers are attractive horticultural features. Flowering in summer, the flowers attract brightly coloured beetles.{{cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp6/ang-hisp.html |title=Growing Native Plants: 'Angophora hispida'' |access-date=9 December 2012 |author=ANBG Staff |year=2002 |work=Australian National Botanic Gardens Website |publisher=ANBG}} It requires a sunny aspect and good drainage to grow well.

Angophora hispida DSC 4503 (27666550975).jpg|Opposite & decussate leaves

Angophora hispida Dwarf apple (Angophora hispida) 31-10-2007 IMG 5392 (1807217983).jpg|(After fire) red hairy new growth

Angophora hispida DSC 6592 (33368522242).jpg|Ribbed capsules

Angophora hispida Angophora hispida DSC 0287 (6747735393).jpg|Flowers & new leaves

Angophora hispida Buds 44670772685 d40aeff6c8 o.jpg|Red, hairy flower buds

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Angophora+hispida#tab_mapView The Australasian Virtual Herbarium – Occurrence data for Angophora hispida]

{{Commons category}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q4564065}}

hispida

Category:Flora of New South Wales

Category:Trees of Australia

Category:Garden plants of Australia

Category:Ornamental trees

Category:Mallees (habit)

Category:Plants described in 1975