Trees Australia Identification Pictures, Photos, Images & Descriptions VIC, NSW, QLD Page 9

Tree Page 9 R - S

Trees Australia Identification Pictures, Photos, Images & Descriptions

Trees of the Australian East Coast identification pictures in full colour and enlarged sizes. Detailed description explaining leaf, bark, flower, fruit and other characteristics are listed for each native tree species. The natural distribution range and special features useful in identification are given for specimen listed on our web pages. All Creative Designs Nambucca & Coffs Harbour® presents native Australian tree images for website design, presentation and identification purposes. Please note all images are copyright and only to be used for non-business purposes. (see copyrights) You are welcome to Contact Us with any questions or feedback regarding Australian tree species and queries regarding commercial use of photos. We aim to build up the awareness to the high conservation values Australian rainforest areas deserve.
Identification tree pictures are ordered by most used common name in alphabetical order, see page links below.
Tree Pages: 1 A - Bo \| 2 Bo - Br \| 3 C - D \| 4 E - Euca \| 5 F - Figs \| 6 F - G \| 7 H - M \| 8 N - P \| 9 R - S \| 10 S - Syz \| 11 T - V \| 12 W - Z
See our Leaf Characteristic Page for explanations on leaf and vegetative characteristics mentioned in descriptions to the right. Know what you are looking for; use our species list with links to relevant tree images and descriptions. JPG format thumbnail images are 180 x 135px (vertical 135 x 180 px) web optimised. JPG full size images are 800 x 600 px web optimzed (vertical 600 x 800 px). All images copyright © 2007 - 2012 by All Creative Designs® worldwide rights reserved. Click thumbnail images to view full size pictures.	Leaf Characteristics Page Flower Characteristics Page Species List Common & Botanical Reference Resources Back to Gallery

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4

Picture 5

Red Ash Alphitonia excelsa Other names: Soap Bush
Common tree species with an open canopy found in regrowth and on margins of different rainforest types growing up to 25 m in height (Picture 1). Bark is grey in colour with longitudinal fissures. (2) Small creamy white flowers appear in spring and are followed by rounded ovoid fruit turning black when ripening (Pictures 3 & 4). Simple leaves are; up to 15 cm long with entire margins, oblong to narrow elliptic in shape with an alternate leaf arrangement. Veins and petiole (up to 20 mm long) are light brown in colour (5). Distribution: South coast of NSW to central QLD. See Leaf Characteristics Page for explanations of botanical terms used.

Red Ash

Alphitonia excelsa Bark

Red Ash Flower

Red Ash Fruit

Alphitonia excelsa Leaves

Red Bloodwood Eucalyptus gummifera [Corymbia gummifera] see Eucalypts Page 4

Red Boppel Nut Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia
Beautiful small subtropical rainforest tree species with an upright and slender growth habit (Picture 1). Bark is light brown in colour, firm and finely fissured (2). The distinctive foliage with large compound leaves, which can reach more than 80 cm in length and show an alternate arrangement, is a characteristic feature in identification of this tree species (Picture 3). Gorgeous purple and dark red flowers appear on the trunk over late autumn and winter (4). Leaves are very deeply lobed, giving the appearance of separate leaflets, with more than 30 lobes possible on the same leaf. Lobes have irregular toothed margins with small spines and are; up to 25 cm long with a dark green and glossy upper surface, hairless and posses a firm and stiff texture (5). Distribution: NSW mid north coast to southern QLD.

Red Boppel Nut Bark Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia

Red Boppel Nut

Red Boppel Nut Bark

Hicksbeachia pinnatifolia

Red Boppel Nut Flower

Red Boppel Nut Leaf

Red Carabeen Geissois benthamii
This native tree species reaches a height of up to 40m and occurs naturally in subtropical and warm temperate rainforests (Picture 1). Older specimens develop beautifully fluted and buttressed trunks with a fairly smooth, reddish brown bark showing small fissures (2). Long flower racemes are up to 20 cm in length and hold a large number of stalked white to pale yellow colored flowers which blossom in late spring to early summer. New growth flushes in pink-salmon colours turning to a bright red (3). The fruit is a softly hairy capsule measuring up to 20 mm in length, splitting along its sides to reveal a number of flattened brown seeds showing a small papery wing on one side (4). The large and leafy stipules (on young growth at nodes) are a prominent feature when identifying the Red Carabeen Geissois benthamii. Trifoliate compound leaves with an opposite arrangement consist of 3 leaflets which are; up to 20 cm in length, elliptic or oblanceolate in shape with toothed margins, hairless, glossy and rather firm. Apex is acute or short accuminate, base shape is cuneate. Petiolules are up to 15mm in length and the strong petiole measure up to 10 cm or more. Venation is clearly visible with strong curved lateral veins (5). Distribution: NSW mid-north coast to southern QLD. See Leaf Characteristics and Flower Identification Page for explanations of botanical terms used.

Red Carabeen

Red Carabeen Bark

Red Carabeen Flower

Geissois benthamii Fruit

Red Carabeen Leaf

Red Cedar Toona ciliata [Toona australis]
The Red Cedar Toona ciliata is a magnificent very large tree species with an expansive buttressed root system reaching a height of more than 50 m and is found in different types of rainforests. Specimens (as shown) are rare these days due to heavy logging since the early 1800's for its beautiful timber (Picture 1). Bark on mature trees is a light brown colour with large scales and a rough, flaky texture (2). Small whitish flowers are held on drooping panicles, measure up to 4 mm in diameter and bloom over spring (3). The obovoid (pear shaped) fruit is up to 20 mm in length and features 5 lobes (chambers) containing tighly packed winged seeds. Fruit turns more brown in colour with maturity, but is often attacked by insects at this stage (4). After a short deciduous time over winter new emerging foliage flushes in red tones. Pinnate compound leaves consist of up to 20 leaflets which are; up to 14 cm long with entire margins, mostly ovate in shape, hairless, smooth and rather soft in texture. Leaflet apex is short acuminate ending in a fine point and base shape is asymmetric. Venation is clearly visible on both leaflet surfaces (5). Distribution: NSW central coast to QLD.
See Flower Characteristics Page and Leaf Characteristics Page for information on terms used.

Red Cedar Canopy Toona ciliata formerly Toona australis

Red Cedar

Red Cedar Bak

Red Cedar Flower

Toona ciliata Fruit

Red Cedar

Red Olive Berry Elaeodendron australe var australe Other names: Red Olive Plum
The Red Olive Plum is a native shrub or small tree less than 10 m in height. It occurs naturally as an under-storey species in different types of rainforests and adjacent sclerophyll forest (Picture 1). Bark is firm, a reddish brown in colour and shows shallow vertical fissures and small ridges (2).Fruit is often more globose (globe shaped) than ovoid (olive shaped), bright red (or orange) in colour and measures up to 25 mm in length. The thin fleshed drupe contains a yellowish seed covered in a hard shell (Pictures 3 & 4). Simple leaves with an opposite arrangement are; up to 10 cm in length, mostly broad elliptic in shape with crenate or more bluntly toothed margins, dark green and glossy on top, duller and light green beneath with a smooth, strong and slightly stiff texture. Leaf apex is acute ending in a rounded point, base shape is cuneate and only the mid vein is prominent (5). Distribution: From NSW south coast to northern QLD.

Red Olive Berry Bark Elaeodendron australe

Red Olive Plum Fruit Elaeodendron australe

Red Olive Berry

Red Olive Berry Bark

Red Olive Plum Fruit

Elaeodendron australe Fruit

Red Olive Berry Leaves

River She-oak Casuarina cunninghamiana
This medium to tall tree up to 40 m in height is commonly located along freshwater courses along most of Australia's east coast (Picture 1). Bark is dark grey , sometimes more brown in colour with a tough and hard texture (2). . The female flower is up to 15 mm in diameter and matures in February (3). The fruit a spikey cones at up to 12 mm in diameter is borne on outer branchlets and is shown before opening (4). Branchlets are up to 30 cm in length with tiny scale like leaves up to 5 mm long (5). Distribution: From southern NSW to northern QLD. This species is protected in NSW.

River She-oak Bark Casuarina cunninghamiana

River She-oak Flower Casuarina cunninghamiana

River She-oak

River She-oak Bark

River She-oak Flower

River She-oak Fruit

Casuarina cunninghamiana

Rose Myrtle Archirhodomyrtus beckleri
This attractive small tree species reaching a height of up to 10m occurs on margins of subtropical rainforest as an under storey species or more often as a tall shrub in adjacent tall forests (Picture 1). Bark changes from a fairly smooth texture and a light brown colour on immature specimens (inset picture 2) to a rough, scalier texture and a darker grey brown on mature trees (2). Foliage of the Rose Myrtle is very glossy and arranged in a very orderly fashion (3). Small flowers developing in axillary axis mature into small roundish fruit about 5 mm in diameter (4). Simple opposite arranged leaves are; small between 2 to 5 cm in length with entire margins, varied in shape from broad elliptic to obovate, dark green and very glossy on top, paler but also glossy below, hairless, thin and soft with a polished like texture. Apex is long acuminate with a blunt point, base shape is cuneate to rounded. The three-veined pattern starting from the base of the leaf is broadly raised on the upper surface which is a good identificaton feature, on the lower surface only the mid vein is clearly visible. Leaves are very pleasantly scented when crushed (5). Distribution: NSW mid-north coast to central QLD.

Rose Myrtle Bark Archirhodomyrtus beckleri

Archirhodomyrtus beckleri Foliage Rose Myrtle

Rose Myrtle

Rose Myrtle Bark

Archirhodomyrtus beckleri

Rose Myrtle Flower

Rose Myrtle Leaves

Rose-leaved Marara Ackama paniculata [Calduvia paniculosa] Other names: Soft Corkwood
Rose-leaved Marara or Soft Corkwood Ackama paniculata is a native tree species showing extensive variations and can grow to 30m or more in height (specimens shown are about 25m tall), occurring in different types of rainforests and regenerating forest areas (Picture 1). The bark has distinct variations from the smooth and shallow fissured example (2) to the deeply fissured, more irregular texture shown in row below (Picture 2), both are very soft and crumble to the touch. Masses of small white flowers which are borne on terminal panicles turn reddish with age (3). The fruit is a tiny roundish and hairy capsule measuring up to 3 mm which is a reddish brown in colour and contains numerous very fine seeds (4). Mature pinnate compound leaves with an opposite arrangement feature up to 7 leaflets which are; very varied, mostly elliptic in shape with finely toothed, crenate or nearly entire margins, up to 12 cm long, nearly hairless to very hairy, light to dark green in colour (depending on sun exposure) and rather soft in texture. Leaflet apex is acute, base shape is cuneate. Other identification characteristics are stipule scars at leaf nodes on branchlets and clearly visible domatia along mid-vein on lower leaflet surface. In good sunlight conditions new growth can flush in pink tones (5). Distribution: NSW central coast to tropical QLD.
See Flower Characteristics Page and Leaf Characteristics Page for information on terms used.

Ackama paniculata Rose-leaved Marara, Soft Corkwood

Soft Corkwood Tree Bark Ackama paniculata

Ackama paniculata Flower Rose-leaved Marara

Rose-leaved Marara

Soft Corkwood Bark

Ackama paniculata Flower

Soft Corkwood Fruit

Soft Corkwood Leaf

Rose-leaved Marara variation with deeply fissured and rougher bark (Pictures 1 & 2). Difference in bark texture is evident on immature trees (3). Both variations of this tree species are growing within ten meters of each other (Picture 4), whereby the rough barked variation to the left started flowering two weeks earlier. Compound leaves are larger and distinctively hairy on young trees with 3 to 7 leaflets up to 25 cm long (Picture Location: Upper Nambucca Catchment) (5). See Leaf Characteristics Page for explanations of botanical terms used.

Rose-leaved Marara Variation

Corkwood Bark Rough

Soft Corkwood Sapling

Ackama paniculata

Leaves 'immature'

Rosewood Dysoxylum fraserianum Other names: Rose Mahogany
This tall native tree species is well known for its beautiful timber and can reach a height of up to 40m in its natural subtropical rainforest habitat (Picture 1). Older specimens feature a scaly, reddish brown bark (2). Pinnate compound leaves with an alternate arrangement consist of 4 to 10 leaflets (mostly 8) which are; up to 12cm long, mainly lanceolate in shape and feature entire margins. Large domatia along the mid vein of the leaflets are a prominent characteristic to assist in identification of this tree species
(Pictures 3,4 & 5).

Rosewood

Rosewood Bark

Dysoxylum fraserianum

Dysoxylum fraserianum Leaf

Rosewood Domatia

Rusty Plum Niemeyera whitei
The Rusty Plum Niemeyera whitei is a more uncommon native tree species due to a small distribution range and clearing of subtropical rainforests. The largest specimens can be found on fertile and well drained soils in the second strata of undisturbed STRF, there it can attain a height of more than 25m (Photo 1). Older trees develop a fluted trunk and feature a reddish brown bark with longitudinal fissures (2). Very unusual flowers borne on younger branches are a whitish cream in colour and measure up to 20mm across (3). The globular seed is up to 6 cm in diameter, brown in colour and covered by a thin layer of fruit flesh with a purplish black and shiny skin (4). Simple leaves with an alternate arrangement are; between 10 to 20 cm in length, elliptic to oblanceolate in shape with entire margins, thick and rather firm, dark green, hairless and semi glossy on top, paler and densely hairy below. Apex is short acuminate, base shape is cuneate. Mid vein and laterals are raised and covered in fine rusty brown hair on lower surface. Petiole is up to 10 mm in length and very hairy as are twigs and young branches (5). Distribution: NSW mid-north coast to southern QLD.

Rusty Plum

Rusty Plum Bark

Niemeyera whitei Flower

Rusty Plum Seed

Rusty Plum Leaves

Sassafras

Oliver's Sassafras Cinnamomun oliveri Other names: Camphorwood
Widespread medium size tree species growing in different types of rainforests along Australia's east coast (Photo 1). Bark is strongly scented, firm and greyish in colour (2). Simple leaves are up to 16 cm long with a firm and leathery texture, featuring entire wavy margins and emit a strong camphor smell when crushed. Leaf arrangement is mostly opposite. (Photos 3,4 & 5).

Oliver's Sassafras

Oliver's Sassafras Bark

Cinnamomum oliveri

Cinnamomum oliveri branchlet

Cinnamomum oliveri Leaves

Red-barked Sassafras Cinnamomum virens
Small to medium sized tree species occurring in subtropical and warm temperate rainforests (Photo 1). Bark is red brown in colour with a finely fissured texture and some blisters (2). Dense and dark green foliage with an opposite leaf arrangement (3). Simple leaves are; up to 13 cm long , mostly lanceolate or sometimes elliptic in shape with entire margins, dark green and glossy on top, paler and semi glossy below, hairless, scented when crushed with a firm and stiff texture. Apex is acute, base shape is cuneate. Being mostly three-veined in the lower half of the leaf is a good identification characteristic, fine reticulate venation is visible under a lens (4 & 5). Distribution: From the central coast of NSW to southern QLD.

Red-barked Sassafras

Cinnamomum virens Bark

Cinnamomum virens Foliage

Red-barked Sassafras Leaves

Sassafras Leaf 'underside'

Sassafras Doryphora sassafras
Doryphora sassafras is often found as an under storey tree species less than 10m tall but under favourable conditions can reach 25m or more in height (Photo 1). Bark has a rather hard texture with a granular surface and is light brown in colour (2). The glossy and scented foliage is a distinctive feature in identification of this species (3). Small flower buds develop into an oval shaped fruit containing hairy seeds called an achene (4). Simple leaves feature an opposite arrangement and are; up to 10 cm long, mostly elliptic in shape with toothed and wavy margins, firm and rather leathery, hairless and glossy on their upper surface. Lower leaf surfaces are a lighter green and moderately shiny. Reticulate venation is quite prominent (5). Distribution: In different types of rainforests from the NSW south coast to central QLD.

Sassafras Flower Bud Doryphora sassafras

Sassafras Doryphora

Doryphora sassafras Bark

Sassafras Foliage

Sassafras Flower Bud

Doryphora Leaves

Scented Acronychia Acronychia littoralis
The Scented Acronychia is a small under storey tree species with a dense foliage growing only in littoral rainforests (Close to the beach) from the NSW mid-north coast to southern QLD (Photo 1). Often multi-trunked it's bark is grey brown in colour, fairly smooth with fine fissures (Photos 2 & 3). Fruit is globose in shape; up to 25 mm across, cream to yellow in colour and contains a single seed (4). Simple (1-Foliate) leaves with an opposite arrangement are; up to 15 cm in length with entire margins, mostly obovate in shape, fairly glossy on both surfaces, hairless with a firm and fleshy texture and feature a rounded and notched (emarginate) apex and a cuneate leaf base shape. Leaves are scented (5).

Acronychia littoralis Scented Acronychia

Scented Acronychia

Acronychia littoralis

Scented Acronychia Bark

Scented Acronychia Fruit

Scented Acronychia Leaves

Scentless Rosewood Synoum glandulosum
Found as an under-storey species in different types of rainforests and adjacent sclerophyll forests the Scentless Rosewood Synoum glandulosum grows to height of up to 15m. This common species derives its name from the similarity of its timber to the Rosewood Dysoxylum fraserianum but without being scented (Photo 1). Bark on more mature specimens is rough and furrowed in texture and grey brown in colour (2). The globose shaped fruit matures in late winter to spring and features 3 lobes containing 3 to 5 seeds partly covered in a bright red aril. It measures up to 18 mm in diameter and turns a yellow-orange when ripe (3). Alternately arranged compound leaves consists of up to 9 leaflets which are; mainly oblanceolate in shape, up to 12 cm in length with entire margins, mid-green and rather dull on top, paler beneath, hairless, thin and soft in texture. Leaf apex is acute, base shape is attenuate (4). The strongly raised mid vein has clearly visible hairy domatia along its length helping in identification of this species (5). Distribution: Common from the NSW south coast to QLD. See Leaf Characteristics Page for explanations of botanical definitions used.

Scentless Rosewood Bark Synoum glandulosum

Scentless Rosewood Fruit Synoum glandulosum

Scentless Rosewood

Scentless Rosewood Bark

Scentless Rosewood Fruit

Synoum glandulosum Leaves

Scentless Rosewood Domatia

Shiny-leaved Stinging Tree Dendrocnide photinophylla
This medium sized tree species reaching a height of up to 20m grows in a range of different rainforest types and features a very glossy foliage (Photo 1). Bark on younger specimens is a light grey in colour and changes to a more light brown when maturing. Texture is rather soft and fairly smooth with some horizontal ridges and bumps (2). The fruit is very small and brown sitting on top of very swollen white and fleshy stalks clustered together (3). Simple leaves with an alternate arrangement are; up to 15 cm long, ovate in shape with varied margins from nearly entire to toothed and even crenate. Leaves are fairly thin, soft and feature small stinging hairs mainly on the petiole and main veins and an acute apex (5). Distribution: NSW central coast to southern QLD. Note: Effect of stinging hair is fairly mild compared to that of the Giant Stinging Tree Dendrocnide excelsa (Page 4).

Dendrocnide photinophylla Bark Shiny-leaved Stinging Tree Bark

Shiny-leaved Stinging Tree Fruit Dendrocnide photinophylla

Shiny-leaved Stinging Tree

Dendrocnide photinophylla

Stinging Tree Fruit

Shiny-leaved Stinging Tree

Stinging Tree Leaf

Short-leaved Beetroot Ellatostachys xylocarpa Other names: White Tamarind
The Short-leaved Beetroot or White Tamarind Ellatostachys xylocarpa is a small to medium size native tree species found in drier types of rainforests (Photo 1). Bark on lower trunk is hard, rather smooth with minute longitudinal fissures and dark green to nearly black in colour (2). The three (sometimes 4) valved fruit turns a yellow orange when ripe at up to 2 cm across in size and contains 3 or 4 black seeds (3). Alternately arranged compound leaves feature up to 6 leaflets which are; up to 8 cm long with mainly irregular toothed margins, mostly elliptic in shape, firm to stiff, mid green fairly dull to satin glossy on top and only slightly paler beneath. Young stems, petiole, petiolule and veins on lower leaf surface are covered in fine, white hair. Leaflet apex is acute and base shape rounded. Venation is very prominent on both sides with large and numerous domatia as swellings on lower surface being a good identification characteristic (Photos 4 & 5). Distribution: Upper mid-north coast of NSW to central QLD.

Short-leaved Beetroot Bark Ellatostachys xylocarpa

Short-leaved Beetroot Fruit Ellatostachys xylocarpa

Short-leaved Beetroot

Short-leaved Beetroot Bark

Short-leaved Beetroot Fruit

Ellatostachys xylocarpa

Short-leaved Beetroot Leaves

Silky Myrtle Decaspermum homile
Small to medium sized native tree species reaching a height of up to 25m in subtropical rainforests and drier environments over a wide distribution range (Photo 1). Bark is mid to dark brown in colour with a firm texture and prominent longitudinal fissures (2). The fruit is a globose berry, dark purple to black in colour when mature and measures up to 5 mm in diameter (3). Leaves feature a neat opposite arrangement and are; up to 7 cm in length with entire margins which are slightly incurved, broadly ovate in shape, dark green and glossy on top, paler and glossy beneath, hairless, smooth with a soft texture. Leaf apex shape is short acuminate ending in a fine point, base shape is rounded. Petiole is rather short up to 5 mm in length and grooved on top. Mid vein is slightly raised on both surfaces, otherwise venation is faint. Leaves emit a pleasant fruity smell with a hint of nutmeg when crushed (4 & 5). Distribution: From NSW central coast to northern QLD and south-east Asia. See also Grey Myrtle Backhousia myrtifolia (Page 6) and Rose Myrtle Archirhodomyrtus beckleri (This Page). See Leaf Characteristics Page for explanations of botanical definitions used.

Silky Myrtle

Silky Myrtle Bark

Silky Myrtle Fruit

Decaspermum homile

Silky Myrtle Leaves

Silky Persimmon Diospyros mabacea Other names: Red-fruited Ebony
The Silky Persimmon or Red-fruited Ebony Diospyros mabacea is a small to medium sized subtropical rainforest tree species and is rare due to a very limited distribution range (Photo 1). The dark trunk is a prominent characteristic in identification. Bark is dark nearly black or dark gray, tough and fissured (2). One to five small white flowers are held on short pedicels in axillary joints and are cylindrical in shape blooming in late winter to spring (3). Branchlets are hairy and grow in a zig-zag shape with regularly spaced simple leaves in an alternate arrangement, which are; up to 16 cm long, mainly elliptic to oblanceolate in shape with entire margins, dark green and glossy on top, pale green below, smooth and firm. Apex is rounded with a blunt point, base shape is attenuate. Mid-vein is raised on both leaf surfaces. Growing buds are finely hairy (Photos 4 & 5). Distribution: Growing naturally only in the Tweed River Valley of NSW. See Flower Characteristics Page and Leaf Characteristics Page for information on terms used.

Silky Persimmon Foliage Diospyros mabacea

Diospyros mabacea Foliage Red-fruited Ebony

Silky Persimmon

Diospyros mabacea Bark

Silky Persimmon Flowers

Silky Persimmon Foliage

Silky Persimmon Leaves

We attempt to properly describe any tree species shown on this web page and cross referenced images using these sources. It is recommended to cross reference your plant material or photographs with the resource list provided when identifying tree species. A personal interest into our native forest species for more than twenty years provided the images, descriptions and measurements for any tree species shown. Other experience was gathered through a long time involvment with Landcare River Restoration Projects and Farm Foresters. Information on distribution range of tree species has been collected using a selection of sources (see link above). The target of these web pages is to show the diversity and magnificence of our remaining rainforests areas. Our aim is to build up the awareness to the high conservation values these subtropical and tropical rainforest areas deserve.
Please note descriptions and all images are copyright, watermarked and not to be used without prior permission by All Creative Designs® worldwide rights reserved. See our Copyright Page.

Tree Pages: 1 A - Bo | 2 Bo - Br | 3 C - D | 4 E - Euca | 5 F - Figs | 6 F - G | 7 H - M | 8 N - P | 9 R - S | 10 S - Syz | 11 T - V | 12 W - Z

You are on Page 9