Lophostemon confertus (MYRTACEAE); Brush box Lophostemon confertus - foliage & flowers - Derek Boddington © 2002 Tall tree to 35m in forest, much shorter and many-branched in littoral rainforest. Bark rough and scaly. Found in all types of rainforest, along margins and in open forests. Endemic to Australia, ranging from Newcastle in NSW to Bowen, north Queensland. The box brush is a unique tree in that its distribution is dependent upon soil moisture availability. Simple leaves, appearing in whorls toward branchlet ends; blade glossy dark green above, paler below. Leaves are elliptical to ovate, 6-15 cm long. Creamish/white flowers about 25 mm in diameter, five petals, stamens prominent and numerous. Flowers October to December. Capsule fruit, green/brown, bell-shaped with flat top. Numerous seeds. Ripe June to November. Valuable host tree for orchid growers. Tiny seeds should be mixed with dry sand for even distribution when sowing. Germinates easily. Favourite tree for bee-keepers and widely planted as a park or street tree.         © 2007 Brisbane Rainforest Action & Information Network PO Box 443 The Gap Qld 4061 Email: ask@brisrain.webcentral.com.au Privacy and disclaimer