White Booyong (Argyrodendron trifoliolatum)

Muston Park North Willoughby, suburban Sydney. A planted tree, probably from the 1880s. 25 metres tall.. Seeds from a planted tree, perhaps from the 1880s. 24 metres tall.

 

This is an abundant species in the sub tropical rainforests of the north of the state of New South Wales. Usually found in lower altitudes on soils of an moderate to good fertility.

 

The distribution is between Bellingen in New South Wales and Gladstone in Queensland. There are other varieties of this species further north in the tropics.

 

Though there is a single tree growing near Paterson, further south in the Hunter region. Possibly indigenous (not planted by white man). It's situated between the Paterson road and Tocal road, on the way from Maitland to Paterson.

 

The botanist L.A.S Johnson noted on this individual tree: "Mr D'Ombrain writes (12 Sept 1933): The T. trifoliolata is the only one that I can find in the area...and cannot find any history of [it]...it may have grown there and just been left standing for its splendid shade".

 

The species first entered scientific literature in 1858, published by Ferdinand von Mueller. Eventually his "Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae" had some two thousand plants. The first specimens of the White Booyong were collected from the Pine River and Brisbane River. The baron wrote the entire document in latin.

 

In the rainforest, White Booyong may be noticed by the relatively pale, cylindrical trunk and heavily buttressed base. Another feature is the pale underside to the leaves. A large tree, growing up to 45 metres in height. With a thick base, sometimes exceeding two metres across.

 

In the 19th and early 20th century, uncountable thousands of these trees were killed and burnt for land clearance. The timber is of use. The botanist A.G. Floyd writes; the straight grain is similar to the Silky Oak (Grevillea robusta). The timber is dark brown to red. Good for indoor work, lining, flooring, turnery and cabinet work.

 

At Davis Scrub, near Alstonville there's many White Booyongs growing in a small area. One has a full healthy canopy of leaves. But some dark patterns of termite trails. Presumably the tree is OK, and the insects are after dead wood only. Here's a picture.

 

Leaves form in threes, hence the specific epithet trifoliolatum. The underside is a silvery or metallic coppery colour. The three leaves in situ have got me confused. Thinking the plant was in the Rutaceae. But this is no citrus. Booyong is now in the mallow family (Malvaceae).

 

In the summer months, thousands of seeds spin down to the earth. The fruit is in the form of a samara, a round seed with a long wing. They are attractive, the colour of gold and appealing to children. Kids like to throw them into the air, and watch them spin to the ground. The seeds germinate easily.

 

One of the bird species that eat the seeds is the Brush Turkey. In this suburban park, there is a population of these birds and they would certainly eat them.

 

Here's a picture of my left hand and seeds from this same tree at Willoughby. Eventually, seedlings grew and were given to "Black Diamond" who had them planted out.

 

Muston Park is named after William Thomas Muston, the original owner of the land and Mayor of Willoughby in 1890. His home ‘Penshurst’ stood in the middle of the land which was subdivided and sold in 1921.

 

A long way from suburban Willoughby is a village, named after this tree. Booyong is situated in an area of the former Big Scrub. Not too far from Byron Bay and Lismore, up in the sub-tropics.

 

Opposite the school at Booyong is an impressive sub tropical rainforest remnant, named Booyong Flora Reserve.

 

The White Booyong is common here, and there's a small but beautiful double trunked tree of this type beside the walking track.

Done