The Cooktown ironwood is semi-deciduous, dropping much of its foliage in response to the prolonged winter dry periods which are the norm within its native range. The foliage of the tree contains toxic levels of alkaloids and has been responsible for numerous deaths of both cattle and horses. The species is a source of timber, which is exceptionally hard and dense as well as being highly termite resistant.
Virtually all culturally modified trees in Eucalyptus tetrodonta woodland on Cape York Peninsula are Cooktown ironwoods. Most of these are 'sugar bag scars' where Aboriginal people have cut through the cambium into the heartwood of the tree to remove honey from native bees. Scars have been made using both stone axes (in pre-contact times) and steel axes (post-contact). These have particular significance to Aboriginal people as the tangible representation of past cultural practices. The large number of hollows found in Cooktown ironwoods at Kakadu National Park are also likely to be culturally modified trees (e.g. Taylor 2002 Figure 6.8).
Referencesedit
^Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).; IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group (2019). "Erythrophleum chlorostachys". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T146629603A146629605. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T146629603A146629605.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^"Erythrophleum chlorostachys (F.Muell.) Baill". Plants of the World Online. The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. n.d. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
Dunlop, C.R., Leach, G.J. and Cowie, I.D. (1995). "Flora of the Darwin region. 2." Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory. Darwin.
Morrison, M., McNaughton, D. and Shiner, J. (2010). "Mission-Based Indigenous Production at the Weipa Presbyterian Mission, Western Cape York Peninsula (1932-66)". International Journal of Historical Archaeology 14:86-111.
Taylor, R. (2002). "Ironwood Erythrophleum chlorostachys in the Northern Territory: aspects of its ecology in relation to timber harvesting". Report to Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australia.
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erythrophleum, chlorostachys, commonly, known, cooktown, ironwood, species, leguminous, tree, endemic, northern, australia, litchfield, national, park, australia, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, scientific, classification, kingdom, plantae, clade, . Erythrophleum chlorostachys commonly known as Cooktown ironwood is a species of leguminous tree endemic to northern Australia Erythrophleum chlorostachys Litchfield National Park Australia Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Clade Rosids Order Fabales Family Fabaceae Subfamily Caesalpinioideae Genus Erythrophleum Species E chlorostachys Binomial name Erythrophleum chlorostachys F Muell Baill 2 Synonyms Erythrophleum laboucheri F Muell ex Benth Laboucheria chlorostachya F Muell Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Usage 4 ReferencesDescription editThe Cooktown ironwood is semi deciduous dropping much of its foliage in response to the prolonged winter dry periods which are the norm within its native range The foliage of the tree contains toxic levels of alkaloids and has been responsible for numerous deaths of both cattle and horses The species is a source of timber which is exceptionally hard and dense as well as being highly termite resistant Distribution and habitat editThe species occurs from north eastern Queensland to the Kimberley region of Western Australia It is found in a wide range of environments from arid savanna to tropical rainforest Usage editVirtually all culturally modified trees in Eucalyptus tetrodonta woodland on Cape York Peninsula are Cooktown ironwoods Most of these are sugar bag scars where Aboriginal people have cut through the cambium into the heartwood of the tree to remove honey from native bees Scars have been made using both stone axes in pre contact times and steel axes post contact These have particular significance to Aboriginal people as the tangible representation of past cultural practices The large number of hollows found in Cooktown ironwoods at Kakadu National Park are also likely to be culturally modified trees e g Taylor 2002 Figure 6 8 References edit Botanic Gardens Conservation International BGCI IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group 2019 Erythrophleum chlorostachys IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019 e T146629603A146629605 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2019 2 RLTS T146629603A146629605 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 Erythrophleum chlorostachys F Muell Baill Plants of the World Online The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew n d Retrieved July 11 2020 Boland D J Brooker M I H Chippendale G M Hall N Hyland B P M Johnstone R D Kleinig D A Turner J D 1984 Forest trees of Australia CSIRO Melbourne Dunlop C R Leach G J and Cowie I D 1995 Flora of the Darwin region 2 Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory Darwin Morrison M McNaughton D and Shiner J 2010 Mission Based Indigenous Production at the Weipa Presbyterian Mission Western Cape York Peninsula 1932 66 International Journal of Historical Archaeology 14 86 111 Taylor R 2002 Ironwood Erythrophleum chlorostachys in the Northern Territory aspects of its ecology in relation to timber harvesting Report to Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Australia nbsp This Caesalpinioideae related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Erythrophleum chlorostachys amp oldid 1180102728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
