Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia (Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia)
Description
Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia is a small tree in the family Proteaceae. This rare species is native to subtropical rainforest in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. Common names include red bopple nut, monkey nut, red nut, beef nut, rose nut and ivory silky oak.The tree produces fleshy, red fruits during spring and summer.These contain edible seeds.Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia is encountered as a tree to 10 m (33 ft) in height, with a maximum trunk diameter of 20 cm (7.9 in). It may have additional stems rising from the base and suckers after being cleared. Its large compound leaves are pinnate and measure from 40 to 100 cm (16 to 39 in) long. There may be 15 to 25 individual leaflets, which measure around 6–25 cm (2.4–9.8 in) long and 2–6 cm (0.79–2.36 in) wide. The leaf margins are lined with fine teeth. New growth is covered with fine rusty hair, as are the inflorescences that emerge in winter and spring (August to October). The flower spikes droop around 14 to 50 cm (5.5 to 19.7 in) in length and are shades of purple and brown and cream. They have a strong sweet smell, described as sickly by some. They are followed in spring and summer by a red fleshy oval fruit, 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long, 2–2.8 cm (0.79–1.10 in) wide.The black seed is within the fruit, which does not fall away.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum:
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Class: Magnoliopsida
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Order: Proteales
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Family: Proteaceae
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Genus: Hicksbeachia
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