About Planchonella cotinifolia (A.DC.) Dubard
Planchonella cotinifolia is an Australian tree species that belongs to the Sapotaceae family. Its common names are small-leaved plum, yellow lemon, and small-leaved coondoo. This species grows in drier rainforests, ranging from the Richmond River in New South Wales north to the Wenlock River in tropical Queensland. It grows as a small tree, reaching up to 15 metres (49 feet) in height, with a maximum stem diameter of 40 centimetres (16 inches). It can be identified by its small leaves, which measure 1–5 centimetres (0.39–1.97 inches) long and 0.5–3 centimetres (0.20–1.18 inches) wide, and have a rounded tip. Flowering takes place between February and March. Its fruit is glossy black, and most often holds a single shining light brown seed that has a lengthwise scar. Planchonella cotinifolia is a member of the genus Planchonella, which is distributed across tropical regions of Southeast Asia, New Guinea, the Pacific islands, and extends into northern and eastern Australia. Genetic analysis of study material found that Planchonella cotinifolia is most closely related to Planchonella eerwah and Planchonella australis; it forms a sister group to these two species, and the three together make up a distinct genetic group. Two varieties of Planchonella cotinifolia are currently recognized: Planchonella cotinifolia var. pubescens and Planchonella cotinifolia var. cotinifolia.
