About Argophyllum nullumense R.T.Baker
Argophyllum nullumense, commonly known as silver leaf, is a rare shrub or small tree native to eastern Australia. It holds a 3RCa rating under the Rare or Threatened Australian Plants (ROTAP) assessment system. The genus name comes from Greek, meaning "bright leaf", a reference to the silvery white underside of the plant's leaves. The original type specimen was collected from Mount Nullum, located near Murwillumbah. This species grows in a range extending from near Nimbin in the south to Mackay, Queensland. It is most frequently found on the Mount Warning caldera, where it grows in warm temperate rainforest on relatively infertile rhyolite-based soils. Mature plants reach up to 8 metres tall, with a stem diameter of up to 15 cm, and they often branch close to the ground. Yellow flowers form in terminal panicles between December and January. The fruiting capsule matures between May and September, and each capsule contains around 30 very small seeds. Germination from fresh seed is relatively swift and reliable. The species was first formally described in 1899 by Richard Thomas Baker.
