Harpullia ramiflora

Claudie tulipwood
Fruits
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Genus: Harpullia
Species:
H. ramiflora
Binomial name
Harpullia ramiflora
Synonyms[4]
  • Harpullia aeruginosa Radlk.
  • Harpullia angustifolia Radlk.
  • Harpullia reticulata Radlk.
  • Harpullia weinlandii K.Schum.

Harpullia ramiflora, commonly known as the Claudie tulipwood or Cape York tulipwood, is a species of plant in the lychee family Sapindaceae, native to parts of Malesia, New Guinea, and northeast Queensland, Australia. It was first described in 1877, and is now cultivated as a street and garden plant in Australia. It has a conservation status of 'least concern'.

Description

The Claudie tulipwood is a small tree growing up to 9 m (30 ft) high and a DBH of 15 cm (6 in).[5][6][7] The dark green, glossy, compound leaves have 8 to 12 leaflets, and are quite large (they can reach up to 100 cm (39 in) long including the petiole).[5][6] The ovate to elliptic leaflets are also fairly large, reaching up to 40 by 8.5 cm (16 by 3 in).[5][6]

The inflorescences are initially axillary, later as the leaves fall they become ramiflorous.[7] They are panicles up to 20 cm (8 in) long, and carry numerous flowers about 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) in diameter, with a green caylyx and 4 or 5 white or cream reflexed petals.[5][6][7]

The bright red fruits are two-valved capsules about 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long by 18 mm (0.7 in) wide. Each valve contains a single black seed which is almost or completely covered by a bright yellow aril.[5][6][7]

Phenology

In Australia, flowering occurs from October to July, and fruits ripen from April to November.[6][8]

Taxonomy

This species was first described in 1877 by the German botanist Ludwig Adolph Timotheus Radlkofer. His paper, titled Über die Sapindaceen Holländisch-Indiens, was published in 1879 in the work Actes du congrès international de botanistes, d'horticulteurs, de négociants et de fabricants de produits du règne végétal tenu à Amsterdam en 1877.[3][4]

Distribution and habitat

Harpullia ramiflora is native to the island of Catanduanes in the Philippines, the island of Halmahera and the Aru Islands in the Maluku Islands, New Guinea, and Cape York Peninsula in Australia.[4][7][9] It grows in rainforest and gallery forest.[5][6][10]

In Australia the range of this species was originally from the top of Cape York to near Rossville, but after extensive planting throughout the city of Cairns it has become naturalised in the areas around the city.[10]

Conservation

As of August 2025, this species has been assessed to be of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and by the Queensland Government under its Nature Conservation Act.[1][2] The justification provide by the IUCN for its assessment is that the plant is found in a range of habitats across a large area of almost 11,000,000 km2 (4,200,000 sq mi) — including some protected areas — and that no specific threats have been identified for the plant.[1]

Cultivation

This tree has been widely planted in the suburbs of Cairns, Queensland, particularly in the streets of Smithfield and Trinity Park.[11] It prefers full sun to semi-shade and can tolerate waterlogged soils. It can be propagated from seed.[12]

  • Habit
    Habit
  • Foliage
    Foliage
  • Flowers
    Flowers
  • Mature fruit
    Mature fruit
  • Unripe fruit
    Unripe fruit

References

  1. ^ a b c Marfleet, K.; van Welzen, P.C. (2021). "Harpullia ramiflora". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T176152075A177878102. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T176152075A177878102.en. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Species profile—Harpullia ramiflora". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Harpullia ramiflora". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Harpullia ramiflora Radlk". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Reynolds, S.T. (2022). Busby, John R.; Kodela, P.G. (eds.). "Harpullia ramiflora". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Cooper, Wendy; Cooper, William T. (June 2004). Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia: Nokomis Editions. p. 492. ISBN 9780958174213.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Harpullia ramiflora | Flora Malesiana". Flora Malesiana. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Harpullia ramiflora · iNaturalist Australia". iNaturalist. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Search: species: Harpullia ramiflora | Occurrence records | The Australasian Virtual Herbarium". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Australian Government. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  10. ^ a b F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Harpullia ramiflora". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  11. ^ "TreePlotter". Cairns Regional Council’s Street and Park Tree Database. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Harpullia ramiflora Radlk". Flora and Fauna Web. Singapore Government. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
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