Planchonella cotinifolia

Planchonella cotinifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Sapotaceae
Genus: Planchonella
Species:
P. cotinifolia
Binomial name
Planchonella cotinifolia
(A.DC.) Dubard (1912)
Synonyms
  • Achras cotinifolia (A.DC.) F.Muell. (1871)
  • Hormogyne cotinifolia A.DC. (1844)
  • Mimusops cotinifolia A.Cunn. ex A.DC. (1844), not validly publ.
  • Pouteria cotinifolia (A.DC.) Baehni (1942)
  • Sersalisia cotinifolia (A.DC.) F.Muell. (1866)
  • Sideroxylon cotinifolium (A.DC.) Engl. (1897)
  • Xantolis cotinifolia (A.DC.) Baehni (1965)

Planchonella cotinifolia is an Australian tree in the family Sapotaceae. The common names include small-leaved plum, yellow lemon and small-leaved coondoo. It occurs in the drier rainforests from the Richmond River, New South Wales to the Wenlock River in tropical Queensland.

It grows as a small tree, up to 15 m (49 ft) tall and a stem diameter of 40 cm (16 in). It may be recognised by the small leaves, 1–5 cm (0.39–1.97 in) m long, 0.5–3 cm (0.20–1.18 in) wide, with a rounded tip. Flowering occurs between February and March. The fruit is glossy black, usually containing one shining light brown seed. The seed has a lengthwise scar.

It belongs to the genus Planchonella which occurs across the tropics of Southeast Asia, New Guinea, the Pacific islands, and into northern and eastern Australia. A genetic analysis of material found that Planchonella cotinifolia was most closely related to Planchonella eerwah and Planchonella australis and was a sister to the two species, the three forming a distinct group.

Two varieties are recognized:

  • Planchonella cotinifolia var. pubescens
  • Planchonella cotinifolia var. cotinifolia