About Beilschmiedia elliptica C.T.White & W.D.Francis
Beilschmiedia elliptica is a medium to large tree that grows up to 30 metres tall, with a trunk reaching 90 cm in diameter. Its cylindrical trunk is reddish brown or grey, with raised dots and depressions in the bark. The base of the tree is somewhat buttressed or flanged, and its shoots and stems are covered in hairs. Leaves are elliptic in shape, arranged alternately with smooth untoothed margins. Leaves measure 8 to 10 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide. Leaf venation is prominent on both sides of the leaf, with a raised midrib and a distinct intramarginal vein. Cream-colored flowers grow in panicles, appearing from August to October. The fruit is a round black drupe covered in a glaucous bloom, measuring 12 mm long and containing a single seed. Fruit ripens between February and April. Like most Australian laurels, removing the fleshy aril from the seed is recommended to help with germination. Germination of Beilschmiedia elliptica is slow but fairly reliable. The fruit of this species is eaten by a range of birds, including the rose-crowned fruit dove, topknot pigeon, and white-headed pigeon.
