Angophora subvelutina
{{Short description|Species of tree}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
|name = Broad-leaved apple
|image = Angophora subvelutina.jpg
|image_caption = Near Tenterfield
|genus = Angophora
|species = subvelutina
|authority = F.Muell.{{cite web |title=Angophora subvelutina |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/91914|website=Australian Plant Census |accessdate=10 March 2020}}
|synonyms =
- Angophora velutina F.Muell.orth. var.
- Eucalyptus subvelutina (F.Muell.) Brooker
|range_map = Angophora subvelutina DistMap.png
|range_map_caption = Occurrence data from AVH
}}
File:Angophora subvelutina buds.jpg
Angophora subvelutina, commonly known as the broad-leaved apple,{{cite web |last1=Chippendale |first1=George M. |title=Angophora subvelutina |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Angophora%20subvelutina |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra |accessdate=10 March 2020}} is a species of tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has rough bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to egg-shaped or elliptical adult leaves, flower buds in groups of three or seven, white or creamy white flowers and ribbed, cup-shaped fruit.
Description
Angophora subvelutina is a tree that typically grows to a height of {{cvt|17-25|m}} and forms a lignotuber. It has rough, fibrous or flaky, greyish bark on the trunk and branches. Young plants and coppice regrowth have sessile, egg-shaped to elliptical or lance-shaped leaves that are {{cvt|50-110|mm}} long and {{cvt|25-50|mm|1}} wide arranged in opposite pairs with a stem-clasping base. Adult leaves are also arranged in opposite pairs, paler on the lower surface, lance-shaped to egg-shaped or elliptical, {{cvt|60-120|mm}} long and {{cvt|20-50|mm|1}} wide with a stem-clasping base. The flower buds are arranged on the ends of branchlets on a branched peduncle {{cvt|9-30|mm|1}} long, each branch of the peduncle with three or seven buds on pedicels {{cvt|4-10|mm|1}} long. Mature buds are globe-shaped, {{cvt|4-6|mm}} long and wide with a ribbed floral cup. The petals are white or creamy white with a green keel, about {{cvt|3|mm}} long and {{cvt|3-4|mm}} wide. Flowering occurs from November to January and the fruit is a cup-shaped capsule {{cvt|8-11|mm|1}} long and {{cvt|6-11|mm|1}} wide with ribbed sides and the valves enclosed in the fruit.{{cite web |title=Angophora subvelutina |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/euclid/text/entities/angophora_subvelutina.htm |publisher=Euclid: Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research |accessdate=5 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Hill |first1=Ken |title=Angophora subvelutina |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Angophora~subvelutina |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |accessdate=10 March 2020}}{{cite book |last1=von Mueller |first1=Ferdinand |title=Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae |date=1858 |publisher=Victorian Government Printer |location=Melbourne |page=31 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/7218#page/33/mode/1up |accessdate=10 March 2020}}
Taxonomy and naming
Angophora subvelutina was first formally described in 1858 by Ferdinand von Mueller in his book Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.{{cite web|title=Angophora subvelutina|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/514285|publisher=APNI|accessdate=10 March 2020}} The specific epithet subvelutina is from Latin, and it translates to 'almost velvety'.Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1211-0}} page 24
Distribution and habitat
Broad-leaved apple grows in open forest in alluvial soil and gravelly clay. It is found mainly in near-coastal areas from near Bundaberg in Queensland and south to near Taree and disjunctly to near Araluen in New South Wales.
Uses
The 1889 book The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that "The Rev. Dr. Wolls states that these 'apple trees' are sometimes cut down to keep cattle alive in dry seasons, as the leaves are relished by them."{{cite book | author=J. H. Maiden | year=1889 | title=The useful native plants of Australia : Including Tasmania | publisher= Turner and Henderson, Sydney | url=https://primo-slnsw.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=SLNSW_ALMA21105097830002626&context=L&vid=SLNSW&search_scope=EEA&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US}}