Didymocheton gaudichaudianus, commonly known as ivory mahogany, is a species of rainforest tree in the family Meliaceae, native to Malesia, Papuasia, Queensland, and some southwest Pacific islands.
Description
The ivory mahogany is a large tree growing up to 36 m (118 ft) in height with a straight trunk up to 80 cm (31 in) diameter. The bark is smooth and often has teaspoon-sized depressions in it. Buttress roots are a feature of this tree and may reach up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) high and 3.5 m (11 ft) wide.[3][4]
The very large leaves are produced in whorls and clustered towards the ends of the branches. They are imparipinnate with up to 14 pairs of leaflets, and measure up to 125 cm (49 in) in length.[3][4] This arrangement produces large spherical clusters of foliage (see gallery).
The leaflets are highly asymmetric at the base with one side of the leaf blade wider than the other. They measure up to 30 by 8 cm (11.8 by 3.1 in)[4]
The inflorescences are thyrses, about 70 cm (28 in) long, and produced in or close to the leaf axils. The flowers are a pale cream or green, 5-merous, with an unpleasant smell. The fruits are capsules about 3 cm (1.2 in) diameter which are covered in fine brown hairs. They have five segments and contain up to 10 seeds about 1 cm (0.39 in) long.[3][4]
Phenology
Flowering in Australia occurs from September to January, with fruits ripening around October to February.[4][5]
