Stockwellia

{{Short description|Genus of trees endemic to Queensland}} {{Use Australian English |date=August 2021}} {{Use dmy dates |date=August 2021}} {{Speciesbox |name = Vic Stockwell's puzzle |image = Stockwellia-quadrifida-SF23300-03.jpg |status = VU |status_system = QLDNCA |status_ref = {{R|DESQLD}} |display_parents = 3 |genus = Stockwellia |parent_authority = D.J.Carr, S.G.M.Carr & B.Hyland, ''et al''.{{R|CARR-ETAL|APNI}} |species = quadrifida |authority = D.J.Carr, S.G.M.Carr & B.Hyland{{R|CARR-ETAL|APNI}} |synonyms = * Myrtaceae Gen. nov. sp. (Boonjie BH 6589) |synonyms_ref = {{R|RFK|COOPER2}} |range_map = Stockwellia-quadrifida-distribution-map.png }}

'''''Stockwellia''''' is a monotypic genus in the flowering plant family Myrtaceae.{{R|CARR-ETAL}} The sole species in the genus, '''''Stockwellia quadrifida''''' (commonly known as '''Vic Stockwell's puzzle'''), is endemic to Queensland.{{R|CARR-ETAL|RFK}}

==Description== ''Stockwellia quadrifida'' is a very large rainforest emergent, growing up to {{Convert|40|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}} tall and {{cvt|2|m}} DBH.{{R|CARR-ETAL}} It has straight boles with reddish-brown flaky bark and buttress roots up to {{Cvt|6|m}} high.{{R|CARR-ETAL|DISCOVERY|THORNHILL|HERBWEB}}

The leaves are opposite to sub-opposite, glabrous, elliptic and leathery, measuring up to {{cvt|12|cm}} long by {{cvt|4|cm}} wide and turning red before falling.{{R|CARR-ETAL|RFK}}

Inflorescences are axillary, produced in groups of three sessile flowers on a peduncle measuring {{convert|10|to|25|mm|in|1|abbr=on}} in length.{{R|CARR-ETAL}} The fruits are a fused woody capsule containing oval-shaped seeds measuring up to {{convert|11|by|6.5|mm|in|1|abbr=on}}.{{R|CARR-ETAL}}

===Discovery=== This species first became known to botanical science in 1971, when Atherton resident Keith Gould began experimenting with aerial photography as a means of forestry interpretation. Some of his photos appeared to show a large group of emergent trees in a small patch of rainforest near Topaz, and he referred them to Victor (Vic) Stockwell who was Queensland Forestry's ranger responsible for managing timber harvesting in that area.{{R|DISCOVERY|THORNHILL}} Despite Stockwell's vast experience in forestry he was unable to identify the trees from the photos, and so the two men ventured on foot into the forest to find them. When they encountered the trees, Stockwell realised that this was a species unknown both to himself and to botany in general.{{R|DISCOVERY|THORNHILL|BREEDEN}}

Stockwell was surprised to discover a tree (especially a tree so massive, and growing close to forestry roads) of which he was unaware. It quickly aroused interest in botanical circles and became known colloquially as "Vic Stockwell's Puzzle", and was even mentioned in a scientific paper as ''Stockwellia'' long before a formal description and name was published.{{R|CARR-ETAL|DISCOVERY|THORNHILL}}

==Distribution and habitat== This species is endemic to a very small part of the luxuriant Wet Tropics rainforests of north-eastern Queensland, specifically an area on the western slopes of Mount Bartle Frere where it is found only in well-developed rainforest. It occurs within an altitude range of about {{Convert|500|–|750|m|ft|-2|abbr=on}}.{{R|CARR-ETAL|RFK|COOPER2}} The area of occupancy of this species is just {{cvt|52|sqkm}}.{{R|ALA}}{{efn|name=note1}}

==Taxonomy== The genus ''Stockwellia'' and the species ''S. quadrifida'' were first formally described in 2002, some thirty years after its discovery. The Australian botanists Denis John Carr, Maisie Carr and Bernard Hyland published their collaboration in the ''Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society'', based on material collected by Hyland.{{R|CARR-ETAL}}

===Phylogeny=== Genetic studies have shown that ''Stockwellia'' belongs in the "Eucalyptopsis alliance" (along with the genera ''Eucalyptopsis'' and ''Allosyncarpa'') and that ''Allosyncarpa'' is basal to this group while the other two are sister taxa.{{R|CARR-ETAL}} The closest relatives, therefore, are ''Eucalyptopsis alauda'' and ''Eucalyptopsis papuana'' (both from New Guinea and the only two species in the genus), and ''Allosyncarpia ternata'' (another monotypic genus) from the Northern Territory.{{R|CARR-ETAL|UDOVICIC}}

===Etymology=== The genus name is in honour of Vic Stockwell, being the first to identify the plant as an unknown species. The species epithet ''quadrifida'' is derived from the Latin ''quattuor'' (four), and ''-fidus'' (divided), referring to the four segments of the hypanthium.{{R|CARR-ETAL}}

==Conservation status== This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as vulnerable.{{R|DESQLD}} {{As of|2023|November|2}}, it has not been assessed by the IUCN.

In the 2002 paper that formally describes ''S. quadrifida'', the authors stated that despite its restricted range the only threat to the species is predation of the seeds by sulphur-crested cockatoos (''Cacatua galerita'').{{R|CARR-ETAL}} However a new threat has recently appeared that may be of concern. The Australian botanist Andrew Thornhill wrote in an informal (i.e. not peer reviewed) article in The Conversation that he and fellow botanist Stuart Worboys recently{{efn|name=note2}} visited these trees, at which time Worboys observed evidence of the fungus myrtle rust on the leaves. Thornhill wrote:{{blockquote |text=The Australian Myrtaceae have had no time to adapt to myrtle rust. What is happening now could cause the extinction of some extremely unique Australian plants – including ''Stockwellia''.}} suggesting that the status of this newly discovered species may change in the future.{{R|THORNHILL}}

==Ecology== The seeds are eaten by sulphur-crested cockatoos.{{R|CARR-ETAL|COOPER2}}

==Gallery== <gallery mode="packed" heights="160px"> File:Stockwellia-quadrifida-ALA-1.jpg|Inflorescence File:Stockwellia-quadrifida-ALA-3.jpg|Flower File:Stockwellia-quadrifida-SF23300-01.jpg|Base of tree File:Stockwellia-quadrifida-SF23300-02.jpg|Trunk with buttresses File:Stockwellia-quadrifida-SF23300-05.jpg|Trunk and canopy </gallery>

== References == {{Reflist|28em|refs= <ref name=CARR-ETAL> {{Cite journal | last1= Carr | first1= Denis J. | last2= Carr | first2= Stella G. M. | last3= Hyland | first3= Bernie P. M. | last4= Wilson | first4= Peter G. | last5= Ladiges | first5= Pauline Y. | year= 2002 | title= ''Stockwellia quadrifida'' (Myrtaceae), a new Australian genus and species in the eucalypt group | journal= Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society | volume= 139 | issue= 4 | pages= 415–421 |doi= 10.1046/j.1095-8339.2002.00062.x | doi-access= free }} </ref>

<ref name="APNI">{{cite web |url=https://id.biodiversity.org.au/name/apni/181977 |title=''Stockwellia quadrifida'' |year= |website=Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) |publisher=Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="RFK">{{cite web |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/rainforest/text/entities/stockwellia_quadrifida.htm |title=Stockwellia quadrifida |author=F.A. Zich |author2=B.P.M Hyland |author3=T. Whiffen |author4=R.A. Kerrigan |website=Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants, Edition 8 |year=2020 |publisher=Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) |access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="COOPER2">{{Cite book |last1=Cooper |first1=Wendy |last2=Cooper |first2=William T. |author-link2=William T. Cooper |date=June 2004 |title=Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest |place=Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia |publisher=Nokomis Editions |isbn=9780958174213 |url=https://www.nokomis.com.au/product/nokomis-published-books/fruits-australian-tropical-rainforest/ |access-date=5 March 2021 |page=355}}</ref>

<ref name=DISCOVERY> {{Cite journal | last1= Elick | first1= Rebel | last2= Wilson | first2= Peter |date=Dec 2002 | title= The discovery of ''Stockwellia'' (Myrtaceae) | journal= Australasian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter | volume= 113 | issue= December | pages= 15–16 | url= http://www.anbg.gov.au/asbs/newsletter/pdf/02-dec-113.pdf | issn= 1034-1218 | accessdate= 3 Dec 2013 }} </ref>

<ref name=BREEDEN> {{Cite book |last = Breeden |first = Stanley |others = Illustrated by William T. Cooper. Foreword by Sir David Attenborough. |title= Visions of a Rainforest: A year in Australia's tropical rainforest |edition= 1st |publisher = Simon & Schuster Australia |location= East Roseville |year= 1992 |pages= 170–173 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=TOVGAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Vic+Stockwell’s+puzzle%22 | isbn= 978-0-7318-0058-2 | accessdate= 3 Dec 2013 }} </ref>

<ref name=UDOVICIC> {{Cite journal |last1=Udovicic |first1=Frank |last2=Ladiges |first2=Pauline Y. |year=2000 |title=Informativeness of nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions and the phylogeny of the eucalypts and related genera |journal=Kew Bulletin |volume=55 |issue=3 |pages=633–645 |jstor=4118780 |doi=10.2307/4118780}} </ref>

<ref name="DESQLD">{{cite web |url=https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/species-search/details/?id=27943 |title=Species profile—''Stockwellia quadrifida'' |website=Queensland Department of Environment and Science |date=20 October 2014 |publisher=Queensland Government |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="THORNHILL">{{cite web |last1=Thornill |first1=Andrew |title=Vic Stockwell's Puzzle is an unlikely survivor from a different epoch |url=https://theconversation.com/vic-stockwells-puzzle-is-an-unlikely-survivor-from-a-different-epoch-113370 |date=2019 |website=The Conversation |publisher=The Conversation Media Group Ltd |access-date=2 September 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="HERBWEB">{{cite web |title=Specimen Details |url=http://specimens.kew.org/herbarium/K000913936 |website=Herbweb |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=3 September 2021}}</ref>

<ref name="ALA">{{cite web |title=Spatial portal |url=https://spatial.ala.org.au/ws/tasks/output/3032083/Calculated%20AOO%20and%20EOO.html |website=Atlas of Living Australia |access-date=3 November 2023}}</ref>

}}

==Notes== {{notelist|refs= {{efn|name=note1|For a definition of ''Area of Occupancy'' see [https://support.ala.org.au/support/solutions/articles/6000208436-area-of-occupancy-and-extent-of-occurrence this page] at the Atlas of Living Australia}} {{efn |name=note2 |Thornhill wrote: "''More than a decade after the species was officially named...''", i.e. later than 2012}} }}

== External links == * {{Wikispecies-inline |Stockwellia quadrifida |''Stockwellia quadrifida''}} * {{Commons category-inline |Stockwellia quadrifida |''Stockwellia quadrifida''}} * [https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=Stockwellia+quadrifida#tab_mapView View a map] of historical sightings of this species at the Australasian Virtual Herbarium * [https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=851169 View observations] of this species on iNaturalist * [https://flickriver.com/search/Stockwellia+quadrifida View images] of this species on Flickriver * [http://www.pbase.com/donfranklin/stockwellia Photographs] by Don Franklin, Jan 2013.

Category:Myrtaceae Category:Monotypic Myrtaceae genera Category:Endemic flora of Queensland Category:Taxa named by Maisie Carr Category:Taxa named by Bernard Hyland