Erythrophleum chlorostachys
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Erythrophleum chlorostachys | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Litchfield National Park, Australia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Erythrophleum |
| Species: | E. chlorostachys |
| Binomial name | |
| Erythrophleum chlorostachys | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Erythrophleum laboucheri F.Muell. ex Benth. | |
Erythrophleum chlorostachys, commonly known as Cooktown ironwood, is a species of leguminous tree endemic to northern Australia.
The Cooktown ironwood is semi-deciduous, dropping much of its foliage in response to the prolonged winter dry periods which are the norm within its native range. The foliage of the tree contains toxic levels of alkaloids and has been responsible for numerous deaths of both cattle and horses. The species is a source of timber, which is exceptionally hard and dense as well as being highly termite resistant.
Distribution and habitat
The species occurs from north-eastern Queensland to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is found in a wide range of environments, from arid savanna to tropical rainforest.
