| Botanical Name: Lophostemon confertus (Myrtaceae) |  Image - Lophostemon confertus - foliage & flowers - Derek Boddington © 2002. |
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| Common Name: Brush Box, Queensland Box, vinegar tree. | ||
| Distribution: 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. | ||
| Habitat: All types of rainforest, along margins and in open forests. | ||
| Form: Tall tree growing to 35m in forest, much shorter and many-branched in littoral rainforest Bark rough and scaly. | ||
| Leaves: Simple, appearing in whorls toward branchlet ends; blade glossy dark green above, paler below. Leaves are elliptical to ovate, 6-15 cm long. | ||
| Flower: Creamish/white about 25 mm in diameter, five petals, stamens prominent and numerous. Flowers October to December. | ||
| Fruit: Capsule, green/brown, bell-shaped with flat top. Numerous seeds. Ripe June to November. | ||
| Garden Use: Valuable host tree for orchid growers. | ||
| Edible?: No. | ||
| Propagation: Tiny seeds should be mixed with dry sand for even distribution when sowing. Germinates easily. | ||
| Comments: Favourite tree for bee-keepers and widely planted as a park or street tree. | ||
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Description - Blair Bartholomew |
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