Callicoma is a plant genus in the family Cunoniaceae, within the order Oxalidales. It is monotypic, containing a single species, Callicoma serratifolia, a tall shrub or small tree native to Australia. The genus was first described in 1809, with the description attributed to the English botanical illustrator Henry Cranke Andrews.
In the wild, Callicoma serratifolia can reach up to 20 metres in height, though under cultivation it more typically grows to between 6 and 10 metres with a spread of around 3 metres. Its leaves are lanceolate to elliptic, up to 12 cm long and 5 cm wide, with coarsely serrate (toothed) margins. The upper leaf surface is dark green, while the underside appears white owing to a covering of fine white hairs. In late spring and early summer (November to December in Australia), the plant produces pale-yellow, globular flower heads roughly 1.5 cm in diameter, borne on stalks 1 to 2 cm long.
The species is best known by its common name, black wattle, though it is also called callicoma, butterwood, silver leaf, silver-leaf butterwood, and wild quince. The "wattle" name is explained in two ways: the flower heads resemble those of Australian Acacia species, which are widely known as wattles, or the plant's branches were used by early European settlers in wattle-and-daub hut construction. It occurs within and along the edges of rainforest in near-coastal parts of New South Wales and southeast Queensland, typically along drainage lines or near creeks.
Etymology
The common name "black wattle" is explained two ways: the plant's pale-yellow globular flower heads resemble those of Australian Acacia species (commonly called wattles), or the plant's branches were historically used in wattle-and-daub hut construction by early settlers.
Distribution
Callicoma serratifolia, the genus's only species, occurs within and on the edges of rainforest in near-coastal areas of New South Wales and southeast Queensland, Australia, typically along drainage lines or near creeks.
Cultivation
In the wild the plant can reach up to 20 m in height, but under cultivation it more typically grows to 6–10 m with a spread of about 3 m.
Taxonomy Notes
The genus was first described in 1809 (authorship "Andrews", per GBIF; attributed to Henry Cranke Andrews per Wikipedia), published in the Botanist's Repository, plate 566. It is placed in family Cunoniaceae, order Oxalidales, and is monotypic — containing only Callicoma serratifolia.
