page_title: Gmelina leichhardtii
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: Gmelina leichhardtii / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Beech or White Beech, Gmelina leichhardtii (F.Muell.) Benth., Plate 33 from Forest Flora of New South Wales by by w:Joseph Henry Maiden (1859–1925)
context_page_description: Gmelina leichhardtii, the white beech, is a tropical forest tree of eastern Australia. Scattered individuals or small groups of trees naturally occur from the Illawarra district of New South Wales to near Proserpine in tropical Queensland. The white beech or grey teak is a fast-growing tree, growing on volcanic and alluvial soils in areas of moderate to high rainfall. It also grows on poorer sedimentary soils in fire free areas. White beech may occasionally be seen in Australian rainforests, though their status is considered "uncommon". Unlike the Australian red cedar, the white beech has not recovered particularly well after logging in the 19th and 20th centuries.
context_section_description: Mature specimens of white beech reach 15 to 30 m (49 to 98 ft) tall, though exceptional individuals can reach 60 m (200 ft) tall, and live for centuries. The base of the largest trees exceeds two and a half metres in diameter, and the trunk is cylindrical with a flanged but not buttressed base. The flanging can extend up the bole. The bark varies from light to dark grey and has a scaled surface with vertical cracks marking sections of trunk. There can be burls. Considered by some to be a semi-deciduous species, losing part of the canopy in late spring. Green leaves are almost always found at the base of the tree, assisting with tree identification. Branchlets are thick, grey or brown and hairy, with easily visible leaf scars. The new shoots are densely covered in fine fur.
  The mature leaves are pale green and ovate, 8 to 18 cm (3.1 to 7.1 in) long. Hairy and veiny on the underside. Midrib, lateral and net veins distinct on the upper surface, conspicuously raised and distinct beneath due to the covering of fawn hairs. Lateral veins eight to ten, straight and forking near the margin at 45 degrees to the midrib. Juvenile leaves are toothed. Purple, yellow and white flowers form in late spring and summer. The fruit are ripe from February to May.
caption: Illustration by Margaret Flockton from The Forest Flora of New South Wales.
exif: {}