Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Corokia (Corokia whiteana FAMILY COROKIACEAE)
Introduction. Corokia is a small shrub of the rainforest understorey, with a restricted range which includes part of the
study area. No Recovery Plan has been prepared but a detailed species outline has been prepared (Quinn et al. 1995).
Conservation status. Corokia is listed on Schedule 2 (Vulnerable) of the TSC Act, 1995 and has a ROTAP code of 2VCi
(Briggs and Leigh 1996).
Habit. A shrub to 4 m high (Harden 1992).
Flowers. Small, yellow flowers with a powerful scent, flowering in spring and summer (Nicholson and Nicholson 1994).
Fruit. A red ovoid drupe, 8-12 mm x 3-5 mm (Harden 1992).
Habitat. Corokia occurs most commonly in ecotones between wet sclerophyll forest and Ceratopetalum apetalum warmtemperate
rainforest at altitudes from c. 10-800 m, usually on rhyolite, rarely on basalt. Also occurs in Lophostemon
confertus open forest with a more or less littoral rainforest species understorey. Other common associates include Callicoma
serratifolia and Tristaniopsis collina (Quinn et al. 1995 and personal communications quoted therein).
Distribution. Nightcap Range north of Lismore; the Tweed Valley at Tumbulgum, and from Tyagarah near Brunswick
Heads (Quinn et al. 1995).
Regeneration and horticulture. Peeled seed germinates in a few months (Nicholson and Nicholson 1994).
Economic and cultural significance. Corokia has the aesthetic and ecological values of all native rainforest plants.
Abundance and reservation. Corokia is locally abundant in the higher altitude forests which represent the core of its
distribution. Two records in the study area are in coastal situations where Corokia is distributed more sparsely.
Threats and amelioration. Logging, fire, urban development (Quinn et al. 1995). Habitat rehabilitation is required.
144