Commersonia bartramia (L.) Merr.

Plant Growth Form

Commersonia bartramia is a species of shrub or tree that typically reaches a maximum height of 25 meters (82 feet). Its trunk can grow up to 50 centimeters (20 inches) in diameter, and sometimes forms buttress roots.

Leaf Shape and Size

Its leaves range from heart-shaped to egg-shaped or broadly egg-shaped, and measure 50–140 millimeters (2.0–5.5 inches) long and 10–20 millimeters (0.39–0.79 inches) wide.

Leaf Attachment Structures

Leaves are attached to a densely hairy petiole that is 10–30 millimeters (0.39–1.18 inches) long, with 2–6 millimeter (0.079–0.236 inch) long stipules at the base of the petiole.

Leaf Surface Features

The leaf tip tapers to a fine point, fine irregular teeth sometimes appear on the lower leaf surface, and the lower leaf surface is much paler than the upper surface.

Flower Cluster Arrangement

Flowers of this species are arranged in dense heads containing 20 to 100 or more individual flowers, with the entire clustered group measuring 30–100 millimeters (1.2–3.9 inches) long. The flower clusters grow from a peduncle 5–25 millimeters (0.20–0.98 inches) long, and each individual flower sits on a pedicel 2–7 millimeters (0.079–0.276 inches) long.

Sepal Characteristics

The sepals are joined at the base, with 5 white lobes 1–3 millimeters (0.039–0.118 inches) long.

Petal and Stamen Characteristics

There are five white petals with ligules that are the same length as the sepal lobes, and a single staminode between each pair of stamens.

Flowering Period and Fruit

Flowering takes place from October to March, and the fruit produced is a hairy, dark capsule that is 15–25 millimeters (0.59–0.98 inches) long.

Habitat

Commersonia bartramia grows in rainforest, as well as along creeks and gullies near the edges of rainforest.

Distribution

It is a common species in rainforest regrowth areas, and its distribution ranges from southern China southward to the Bellinger River in New South Wales.