Download Aleurites moluccanus - Keys

Weeds of Australia - Biosecurity Queensland Edition Fact Sheet
Aleurites moluccanus
Scientific Name
Aleurites moluccanus (L.) Willd.
Synonyms
Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd., orth var.
Aleurites moluccana (L.) Willd. var. moluccana, orth var.
Aleurites remyi Sherff
Aleurites triloba J.R. Forst. & G. Forst.
Jatropha moluccana L.
saplings growing in riparian vegetation along Enoggera
Creek in Brisbane (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Family
Euphorbiaceae
Common Names
candle nut, candle nut tree, candleberry, candlenut, candle-nut tree, candlenut tree,
Indian walnut, kukui, kukui nut, kukui tree, lumbang, lumbang tree, lumbangtree, varnish
tree, varnishtree
habit (Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, USGS)
Origin
Native to the Indian sub-continent, south-eastern Asia and some parts of northern
Queensland (i.e. the Cook and North Kennedy districts). However, because this species
is widely cultivated and naturalised in the tropical regions of the world, its exact native
range is somewhat obscure.
Naturalised Distribution
Sparingly naturalised in the Moreton district in south-eastern Queensland.
Also naturalised in the coastal districts of northern and central New South Wales and on
Christmas Island.
habit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Habitat
A potential weed of closed forests, forest margins, riparian vegetation, disturbed sites
and waste areas.
Habit
A large tree usually growing 10-15 m tall, but occasionally reaching up to 30 m in height.
Distinguishing Features
base of main trunk (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
a large tree usually growing 10-15 m tall.
the younger branches and leaf stalks are densely covered in silvery or
greyish-brown star-shaped hairs.
its alternately arranged leaves (7-24 cm long and 4-20 cm wide) are entire,
three-lobed or five-lobed.
its small whitish flowers are arranged in large branched clusters at the tips
of the stems.
close-up of bark on main trunk (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
separate male and female flowers are present in these clusters, the majority
being female.
its large rounded fruit (4-6 cm across) contain one or two large seeds.
Stems and Leaves
The bark on the main stem is relatively smooth and greyish-brown or dark grey in
colour. The younger branches are densely covered in silvery or greyish-brown starshaped (i.e. stellate) hairs.
The alternately arranged leaves are borne on stalks (i.e. petioles) 3.5-12 cm long, but
tend to be crowded towards the ends of the branches. They are also covered in silvery
or greyish-brown star-shaped (i.e. stellate) hairs when young, but become hairless (i.e.
glabrescent) or almost hairless as they mature. These leaves (7-24 cm long and 4-20
cm wide) are egg-shaped in outline (i.e. ovate), elongated in shape (i.e. ellipticlanceolate), or lobed (i.e. three-lobed or five-lobed). They have pointed tips (i.e. acute to
acuminate apices) and entire, wavy (i.e. undulate to sinuate) or lobed margins. They
also have two small raised structures (i.e. glands) where the leaf stalk meets the base
of the leaf blade.
Flowers and Fruit
five-lobed leaves (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
The greenish-white or whitish flowers are arranged in branched clusters (3-20 cm long
and 10-14 cm wide) at the tips of the branches (i.e. in terminal panicles). Separate male
and female flowers are present in these clusters, with most of the flowers being female
(i.e. this species is monoecious). Both types of flowers have two or three sepals (2.5-3.5
mm long and 1.5-3 mm wide) and five white or cream coloured petals (4-8 mm long and
1.5-3 mm wide). The male flowers (about 5 mm across) are borne on stalks (i.e.
pedicels) 5.5-10 mm long, have 15-26 yellow stamens, and are found near the tips of
the flower clusters. The female flowers (8-10 mm across) are borne on shorter stalks
(i.e. pedicels) 2-4.5 mm long and have an ovary topped with two short styles (0.5-2 mm
long). Flowering occurs mainly during summer (i.e. from January to March).
The large fruit (4-6 cm across) are rounded in shape (i.e. sub-globose) or slightly twolobed. They contain one or two large greyish seeds (23-32 mm long and 20-32 mm
wide) that are broadly egg-shaped (i.e. ovoid). Fruit are present mostly during autumn
and early winter (i.e. from April to June).
close-up of five-lobed leaf (Photo: Forest and Kim Starr,
USGS)
Reproduction and Dispersal
This species reproduces only by its large heavy seeds. These seeds are spread by
gravity and possibly also by water. Plants are also spread through the deliberate
cultivation of this species.
Legislation
This species is not currently declared under any state or local government legislation.
Management
close-up of young leaves and new growth covered in tiny,
greyish-brown, star-shaped hairs (Photo: Forest and Kim
Starr, USGS)
As this species is not a declared plant, its control is not required and there are no
restrictions on its sale or cultivation. However, it is an emerging environmental weed in
south-eastern Queensland and should be controlled in sensitive bushland and
conservation areas. It also should not be planted in revegetation areas or in amentiy
plantings near environmentally sensitive areas.
Similar Species
Candle nut ( Aleurites moluccanus) is very similar to another native species also known
as candle nut (i.e. Aleurites rockinghamensis). However this species is only present in
the wild in northern Queensland, and is relatiely rare in cultivation.
Younger plants are also similar to some of the native kurrajongs ( Brachychiton spp.).
large, branched, flower clusters (Photo: Forest and Kim
Starr, USGS)
Notes
Candle nut ( Aleurites moluccanus) is often planted as an ornamental, particularly in the
coastal districts of eastern Australia. This species, which is native to the rainforests of
northern Queensland, has escaped cultivation and become a weed in some wetter
coastal areas of eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland.
Candle nut ( Aleurites moluccanus) is an emerging environmental weed in south-eastern
Queensland and is on the New South Wales North Coast environmental weed survey
list. It is occasionally planted in rainforest revegetation sites in the region, and this has
no doubt aided its spread into bushland areas. For example, several saplings and small
trees are naturalised along Enoggera Creek in The Gap in Brisbane, after spreading
from specimens cultivated in a revegetation planting. It has also recently been recorded
growing around an old dump site near Amity Point on North Stradbroke Island.
This species has also begun to spread into undisturbed forest areas on Christmas
Island, following its deliberate planting in rehabilitation operations, and is now thought
to pose a threat to the natural vegetation of the island.
female flowers (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Fact sheets are available from Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation
(DEEDI) service centres and our Customer Service Centre (telephone 13 25 23). Check our website
at www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au to ensure you have the latest version of this fact sheet. The control
methods referred to in this fact sheet should be used in accordance with the restrictions (federal
and state legislation, and local government laws) directly or indirectly related to each control method.
These restrictions may prevent the use of one or more of the methods referred to, depending on
individual circumstances. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this information, DEEDI
does not invite reliance upon it, nor accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused by actions
based on it.
close-up of male flowers with yellow stamens (Photo:
Forest and Kim Starr, USGS)
Copyright © 2016. All rights reserved. Identic Pty Ltd. Special edition of Environmental Weeds of
Australia for Biosecurity Queensland.
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un-lobed leaves and immature fruit (Photo: Sheldon Navie)
Android Edition
Apple iOS Edition
mature fruit (Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, USGS)
old fruit on the ground (Photo: Forest and Kim Starr, USGS)
close-up of seeds (Photo: Steve Hurst at USDA PLANTS
Database)
seedling (Photo: Sheldon Navie)