About Guioa semiglauca (F.Muell.) Radlk.
Guioa semiglauca (F.Muell.) Radlk. typically grows to around 25 metres in height and 43 centimetres in trunk diameter, but it can produce flowers and fruit when it is only 6 metres tall. Its outer bark is smooth, and its trunk is fluted. This species is similar to coachwood, but its trunk is more fluted and irregularly shaped. Its veiny leaflets are arranged in a pinnate structure, and individual leaflets measure up to 10 centimetres long. The midrib extends past the main leaf blade to form a tiny tip. Leaves are green on their upper surface, and whitish (glaucous) on their lower surface. Yellow-green flowers form between September and November each year. The fruiting capsule matures between January and May. The seeds are oval, and each is covered by a thin layer of fleshy aril. The fruit is eaten by a large variety of birds, including the Australian king parrot. Indigenous Australians used the saponin present in this plant’s bark as a fish poison.
