About Litsea leefeana (F.Muell.) Merr.
Litsea leefeana, commonly called the brown bolly gum or brown bollywood, is a small to medium-sized rainforest tree in the laurel family. It is endemic to the rainforests of tropical Queensland, Australia. This species is one of eleven members of the large Asian genus Litsea that grow naturally in Australia. Following study by botanist Bernard Hyland, populations of what was previously classified as Litsea leefeana found in southern Queensland and New South Wales have been reclassified as the separate species Litsea australis.
The species specific epithet leefeana honors Mr. Leefe, a botanical collector from the Kennedy district of northern Queensland. Its leaves are elliptical in shape, arranged alternately along the stem, and measure 8 to 13 cm long with a blunt tip. The leaf venation is prominent and attractive on both sides of the leaf. Green or cream-colored flowers grow from leaf scars on branchlets or in the leaf axils. The fruit is a black drupe, which is eaten by a wide variety of rainforest birds.
Regeneration from fresh seed is not difficult, as long as the black aril is removed before sowing. Litsea leefeana is suitable for use as a garden plant in locations that experience no frost. Young plants require protection from wind, along with plentiful shade and moisture.
