| Ternstroemia cherryi | |
|---|---|
| |
| With ripe fruit | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Pentaphylacaceae |
| Genus: | Ternstroemia |
| Species: | T. cherryi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ternstroemia cherryi | |
| Synonyms4 | |
| |
Ternstroemia cherryi, commonly known as cherry beech, is a species of plant in the family Pentaphylacaceae. It is a small rainforest tree native to New Guinea and to tropical parts of the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia.
Description
Ternstroemia cherryi is an understory tree to 20 m (66 ft) tall which may be buttressed. Leaves are simple and are arranged in pairs or whorls. They can reach 16 cm (6.3 in) in length and 6 cm (2.4 in) in width and are somewhat fleshy with only the main lateral veins visible.56
Flowers occur singly on the twigs below the leaves. They are white or cream, about 20 mm (0.8 in) diameter, actinomorphic, bisexual, with five petals and sepals, about 100 stamens and a single style.56
The fruit is a yellow or orange capsule about 3 cm (1.2 in) diameter and up to 5 cm (2.0 in) long. They contain several seeds which are about 20 mm (0.8 in) long and are covered in a red aril.56
Distribution and habitat
This species inhabits rainforest throughout New Guinea (including the Bismarck Archipelago), in the northern part of the Northern Territory in and around Kakadu National Park, and in coastal and sub-coastal Queensland from about Tully to the islands of the Torres Strait.78 In Australia it occurs at altitudes up to about 800 m (2,600 ft).5
Conservation
As of May 2026, this species has been assessed to be of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and by the Queensland Government under its Nature Conservation Act.12
Uses
In New Guinea, the bark was boiled to make a preparation for treating heartburn and headaches.9
Gallery
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Botanical sketch -
Leaf -
Flowers
References
References
- Jimbo, T. (2022). "Ternstroemia cherryi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022 e.T198826637A202837784. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T198826637A202837784.en.
- "Taxon - Ternstroemia cherryi". WildNet. Queensland Government. 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- "Ternstroemia cherryi (F.M.Bailey) Merr. ex J.F.Bailey & C.T.White". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- "Ternstroemia cherryi (F.M.Bailey) Merr. ex J.F.Bailey & C.T.White". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Ternstroemia cherryi". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- Conn, Barry; Damas, Kipiro. "PNGTreesKey – Ternstroemia cherryi (F.M.Bailey) Merr. ex F.M.Bailey & C.T.White". Guide to Trees of Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- "Search: species: Ternstroemia cherryi | Occurrence records". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- "Ternstroemia cherryi (F.M.Bailey) Merr. ex J.F.Bailey & C.T.White". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- Beasley, John (2009). Plants of Cape York - the compact guide. John Beasley. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-9806863-0-2.
External links
External links
- Map of herbarium collections of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
- Observations of this species on iNaturalist
- Images of this species on Flickriver.com