Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Heart-leaved Bonewood (Bosistoa selwynii FAMILY RUTACEAE) and
Yellow Satinheart (B. transversa)
Note: The following two species are now believed to be different developmental stages of the same species, with some geographical
variation. They are treated together here, but with references to individual taxa where they are referred to separately in the literature.
Introduction. Both taxa are rainforest trees. No Recovery Plans have been prepared.
Conservation status. Both species are listed on Schedule 2 (Vulnerable) of the TSC Act, 1995 and are not listed by Briggs
and Leigh (1996).
Habit. Heart-leaved Bonewood is a crooked tree up to 22 m tall with a dark green crown, while Yellow Satinheart is a
small to medium tree up to 15 m tall (Floyd 1989).
Flowers. Flowers of both species are white, in panicles. Heart-leaved Bonewood flowers from January to March, and
Yellow Satinheart flowers from March to May (Floyd 1989).
Fruit. The fruit of Heart-leaved Bonewood consists of one or two woody carpels, grey-brown, truncated, egg-shaped,
1 cm broad, velvety. Fruit ripe October to November. The fruit of Yellow Satinheart consists of one or two woody carpels,
yellowish-brown, obliquely egg-shaped, 1-1.3 cm broad, densely downy and transversely wrinkled or ribbed. Single,
kidney shaped seed about 1 cm long. Fruit ripe May to July (Floyd 1989).
Habitat. Floyd (1989) describes Heart-leaved Bonewood as occurring in lowland subtropical rainforest to 300 m altitude,
of the White Booyong alliance and on deep moist alluvial soil. Prefers alluvial flats in NSW, particularly creek banks.
Yellow Satinheart occurs in lowland subtropical rainforest to 150 m altitude.
Distribution. Heart-leaved Bonewood occurs from Richmond River, NSW, to Maryborough, Queensland. Recorded in
NSW from Whian Whian SF; Middle Pocket; North Pumpenbil; Tyalgum Creek and Oxley River adjoining Limpinwood.
Yellow Satinheart occurs from Mullumbimby, NSW, to Maryborough, Queensland. Recorded in NSW from Tongoggin
Mountain; Middle Pocket, Mullumbimby; Couchy and Crystal Creeks; Urliup; Terranora and Bilambil (Floyd 1989).
Regeneration and horticulture. Germination of both species is erratic (Floyd 1989).
Economic and cultural significance. Heart-leaved Bonewood and Yellow Satinheart have the ecological and aesthetic
values of all native rainforest trees.
Abundance and reservation. Both species are reserved in the Shire only at Inner Pocket, with an additional unreserved
location in the study area at Yankee Creek, Mullumbimby. Reservation is inadequate in NSW, though no information is
available about their reservation in Queensland, where their range is extensive.
Threats and amelioration. Habitat clearing , fragmentation and modification threaten the taxa. Revegetation and rehabilitation
measures are required.
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