Medicosma cunninghamii
| Pinkheart | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Medicosma |
| Species: | M. cunninghamii |
| Binomial name | |
| Medicosma cunninghamii Hook. & Hook.f. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Medicosma cunninghamii known as the Pinkheart or Bonewood is a rainforest tree found in eastern Australia. A member of the citrus family, it occurs from the Richmond River, New South Wales to Miriam Vale in coastal sub tropical Queensland. The habitat is lowland sub-tropical rainforest or seaside rainforest. Rarely seen in New South Wales.
A small crooked tree, to 10 metres tall and a stem diameter of 10 cm. The tree is often grown as an ornamental, it features attractive white flowers which may form at any time of the year. However, the flowers usually form between November to March, and have an appealing orange blossom fragrance.
In cultivation it is a hardy and long lived species which prefers well drained soils and plenty of water. It maybe grown from semi hardwood cuttings, but growth from seeds is unreliable.
The generic name Medicosma is from the Latin, referring to the citrus lemon scent of the leaves. The specific epithet cunninghamii honours the explorer and botanist Allan Cunningham.[1]
References
- ↑ Floyd, A.G., Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia, Inkata Press 2008, ISBN 978-0-9589436-7-3 page 364