Byron Flora and Fauna Study 1999 - Byron Shire Council

A GREENPRINT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Crystal Creek Walnut (Endiandra floydii FAMILY LAURACEAE)
Introduction. This newly described species was formerly believed to be confined to the Tweed district, but has recently
been recorded in the Byron Shire. Crystal Creek Walnut is an ornamental rainforest tree with large, poorly dispersed
seeds. No Recovery Plan has been prepared for Crystal Creek Walnut.
Conservation status. Crystal Creek Walnut is listed on Schedule 1 (Endangered) of the TSC Act, 1995 and has a ROTAP
code of 2VC- (Briggs and Leigh 1996).
Habit. A small tree with glossy alternate leaves (Harden 1990).
Flowers. Tiny green to cream flowers (Harden 1990). Flowering period is April to May (Floyd 1989). No information
about pollination is available.
Fruit. Drupe, turning red then purplish black on ripening, shiny, oblong and resembling a passionfruit when green, 7-10
cm long on a thick stalk 2-3 cm long. Seed single, globular to ovate, light brown with darker brown longitudinal network
of broad and fine raised veins, 45-55 mm long. Ripe December to February (Floyd 1989). No information about seed
dispersers is available. The seed is too large for ingestion by frugivorous birds, though seeds may be dropped under the
tree if birds consume the flesh. Rodents are likely seed predators once the seeds are dropped, and may occasionally drag
seeds a short distance from the tree. Gravity will assist downhill movement of seeds.
Habitat. Warm temperate or subtropical rainforest with Lophostemon confertus overstorey. On paleozoics but with overlying
basalt nearby. On moderately steep slopes below 430 m in altitude (Floyd 1989). Two specimens observed during this
survey were located in a patch of disturbed (and recently burned) subtropical rainforest on the ecotone between the
rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest. Another tree was located in an area of intact subtropical floodplain rainforest on a
tributary of Christies Creek.
Distribution. Confined to the Tweed-Brunswick areas including Couchy, Crystal and Nobbys Creeks, Urliup Road and
Tomewin (Floyd 1989). Recently found in the Brunswick Heads and Byron Bay areas (A. Benwell, A. McKinley pers.
obs.). A specimen was located at Alidenes Road, Mullumbimby. In total three new locations were found by the authors
during this survey.
Regeneration and horticulture. Grown from fresh seed with flesh removed (Floyd 1989), no information about cutting
propagation is available. The tree is little known in horticulture, but could be promoted for the ornamental glossy foliage.
Seedlings and saplings can be assumed to be shade-tolerant, and to respond favourably to small light gaps.
Economic and cultural significance. The timber of Crystal Creek Walnut is too rare to be used (Floyd 1989). Otherwise,
no particular use or significance is known apart from the aesthetic and ecological values of all native rainforest species.
Abundance and reservation. Fifteen locations are known in the study area, one of which is reserved at Brunswick Heads
NR. Overall, numbers are extremely low and reservation adequacy is unknown (Briggs and Leigh 1996) (inadequate
reservation can be assumed). The low numbers, inadequate reservation and the occurrence of Crystal Creek Walnut at
the southern-most limit of its range in Byron Shire makes the effective conservation of plants and populations in the
study area of particular importance.
Threats and amelioration. Threats to the Crystal Creek Walnut include land clearing and fragmentation of habitat, weed
invasion, fire, grazing, and low population numbers. Its poor dispersal ability will make it difficult for new sites to be
colonised.
To improve the conservation status of Crystal Creek Walnut, the health of the populations and regeneration potential
should be enhanced by weed management, grazing exclusion, fire protection and replanting of surrounding habitat.
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