{{Short description|Species of legume}} {{speciesbox |image = Pararchidendron pruinosum leaves Barrenjoey.JPG |image_caption = Snow-wood at Barrenjoey, Australia |genus = Pararchidendron |parent_authority = I.C.Nielsen (1983) |species = pruinosum |authority = (Benth.) I.C.Nielsen (1983) |synonyms = *''Abarema sapindoides'' {{small|Kosterm. (1954), nom. superfl.}} *''Albizia pruinosa'' {{small|(Benth.) F.Muell. (1872)}} *''Feuilleea pruinosa'' {{small|(Benth.) Kuntze (1891)}} *''Pithecellobium pruinosum'' {{small|Benth. (1844)}} *''Pithecellobium sapindoides'' {{small|Domin (1926), nom. superfl.}} |synonyms_ref = <ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:912942-1 ''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' (Benth.) I.C.Nielsen]. ''Plants of the World Online''. Retrieved 13 September 2023.</ref> |}}
'''''Pararchidendron pruinosum''''' is an Australian rainforest tree growing from the Shoalhaven River (34° S) in New South Wales to Herberton (17° S) in north Queensland. It is also native to New Guinea and to Java, Sulawesi, and the Lesser Sunda Islands in Indonesia. Common names include Snow-wood, Tulip Siris and Monkey's Earrings. It is the sole species in genus '''''Pararchidendron'''''.
The habitat of the Snow-wood is tropical, sub-tropical, warm temperate, littoral and riverine rainforest. Like most legume species, it fixes atmospheric nitrogen in the soil via its symbiotic partnership with root bacteria - trading the bacteria starches in exchange for nitrogen. It can be seen growing on sand within earshot of Seven Mile Beach, New South Wales.
== Description == Snow-wood is a small to medium-sized tree, reaching 15 metres in height and a 35 cm in trunk diameter. The reddish trunk and lacy pinnate leaves give a pleasing appearance.
The trunk of ''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' is cylindrical, and not buttressed at the base. The bark is dark reddish brown patterned with corky pustules.
=== Leaves ===
The leaves are alternate and bipinnate. The main leaf stalk has one to three pairs of secondary leaf stalks, opposite or nearly so on the main stalk. Five to eleven leaflets alternatively arranged on the secondary leaf stalks. Leaves entire, lanceolate, four to five cm long, 13 to 20 mm broad. The tip tapers to a point, the leaf base is oblique. Smooth and green both surfaces, slightly paler below. Leaf venation is obvious, with a raised midrib evident on both upper and lower sides.
=== Flowers and fruit ===
Flowers fluffy white or greenish, fragrant, though later turning yellow. Flowering period is from October to January.
The fruit pod matures from February to June. Resembling Acacia fruit pods. Very twisted, and flattened. Seeds are black, shiny and mostly flat, oval in shape. Scarification of the seeds is advised to assist germination, which is slow but fairly reliable.
[[Image:Pararchidendron pruinosum00.jpg|thumb|left|240px|drawing by Margaret Flockton]]
==Varieties== Four varieties are accepted:<ref name = powo/> *''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' var. ''junghuhnianum'' {{small|(Benth.) I.C.Nielsen}} *''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' var. ''novoguineense'' {{small|I.C.Nielsen}} *''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' var. ''pruinosum'' *''Pararchidendron pruinosum'' var. ''sumbawaense'' {{small|(Kosterm.) I.C.Nielsen}}
==References== {{Portal|Trees}} {{Reflist}} * Floyd, A.G., ''Rainforest Trees of Mainland South-eastern Australia'', Inkata Press 1989, {{ISBN|0-909605-57-2}}
{{Taxonbar|from1= Q7135796|from2=Q7135805}}
Category:Mimosoideae Category:Fabales of Australia Category:Flora of New South Wales Category:Flora of Queensland Category:Trees of Australia Category:Flora of New Guinea Category:Flora of Java Category:Flora of the Lesser Sunda Islands Category:Flora of Sulawesi Category:Plants described in 1844 Category:Monotypic Fabaceae genera