Flindersia australis aka Australian Teak
Taxonomy ID: 25506
Flindersia australis, commonly known as Crow's ash, Australian teak, or flindosy, is a large evergreen-to-semi-deciduous rainforest tree in the family Rutaceae. It was first formally described by Robert Brown in 1814 from material collected near Broad Sound in Queensland in 1802, and is one of around 15 Flindersia species found in Australia. The species is endemic to north-eastern Australia, occurring in dry and subtropical rainforests and dry scrub at low elevations from around Airlie Beach in Queensland, inland as far as Carnarvon National Park, and south through New South Wales to about the Nymboida River and Kempsey on the North Coast.
Mature trees typically grow to around 40 metres tall and develop a dense, oval crown; larger specimens usually have moderately buttressed trunks. The leaves are alternate (rarely opposite), crowded toward the branch tips, and imparipinnate with usually 5–9 elliptic to narrow-ovate leaflets that are glossy green and dotted with conspicuous oil glands characteristic of Rutaceae. Panicles of small white-to-cream flowers, with petals 5–7 mm long that are densely hairy outside, appear in spring (mainly September–November in its native range, with peak flowering in September–October). The fruit is a distinctive woody capsule 7–10 cm long studded with short rough points, splitting to release winged seeds 3–5 cm long that are dispersed by wind.
The tree is best known for its highly valued timber, marketed as Australian teak or Crow's ash, which is hard, strong, close-grained, durable, and yellow-brown in colour; it has been used historically for staves, flooring, building, and shipbuilding. The wood has a high natural oil content that makes even freshly cut timber readily flammable. Indigenous Australians traditionally used the rough, tuberculated fruits as rasps for preparing edible roots and other foods. No edible or medicinal uses are recorded for the species. Flindersia australis is classified as Least Concern under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992.
In cultivation it is suited to subtropical and tropical climates, tolerates light frosts, thrives in full sun or dappled shade, and grows on a wide range of soils. Propagation is by seed, which germinates quickly when sown fresh within about a week of harvest; seeds can be stored long-term under refrigeration.
Common names
Australian Teak, Crow's AshMore information about Australian Teak
Where is Crow's ash (Flindersia australis) from?
Flindersia australis is endemic to north-eastern Australia. Its native range stretches from central-east Queensland (around Airlie Beach and inland to Carnarvon National Park) south through New South Wales to about the Nymboida River and Kempsey on the North Coast. It grows in dry and subtropical rainforest and dry scrub at low elevations within the seasonally dry tropical biome.
How big does Crow's ash grow?
Crow's ash is a large rainforest tree that typically reaches around 40 metres in height, with larger specimens developing moderately buttressed trunks. It carries imparipinnate leaves with usually 5–9 glossy green leaflets and produces woody, rough-pointed seed capsules 7–10 cm long containing winged seeds 3–5 cm long. Trees are smaller in drier forests and vine thickets than in moist rainforest.
What lighting does Crow's ash need?
Flindersia australis thrives in full sun and tolerates dappled shade, making it a versatile canopy or feature tree once established.
What soil does Crow's ash need?
The species is tolerant of a wide range of soils and is not reported to require specific pH or texture conditions.
What temperatures does Crow's ash tolerate?
Crow's ash is suited to subtropical and tropical climates and will tolerate light frosts, but it is not a cold-climate tree.
What do Crow's ash flowers look like?
Flowers are small, with petals 5–7 mm long, white to cream, and densely hairy on the outside (except along the margins). They are borne in terminal or upper-axillary panicles around 15 cm long, and inflorescences usually include some male-only flowers along with the bisexual ones. Bloom time is mainly Australian spring, with peak flowering in September and October.
Can Crow's ash be grown outdoors?
This is an outdoor specimen tree for subtropical-to-tropical gardens, parks and rainforest revegetation projects. It tolerates light frosts, full sun or dappled shade, and a wide range of soil types, but its eventual size (around 40 m) makes it unsuitable for small gardens.
How is Crow's ash propagated?
Flindersia australis is propagated from seed. Fresh seed germinates quickly if sown within about a week of harvest, and seeds retain their viability for long-term storage when refrigerated.
How is Crow's ash pollinated?
Genus-level floral architecture (bisexual flowers with five sepals, five petals, and five stamens alternating with staminodes) is consistent with insect pollination typical of Rutaceae, and the woody capsules release winged seeds adapted for wind dispersal.
Is Crow's ash edible?
No edible uses are recorded for Flindersia australis.
Does Crow's ash have medicinal uses?
No medicinal uses are recorded for Flindersia australis.
What is Crow's ash used for?
Flindersia australis is one of Australia's premier hardwood timbers, traded as Australian teak or Crow's ash. The yellow-brown wood is hard, strong, close-grained and durable, and has been used for staves, building framing, flooring and shipbuilding; its high oil content makes even freshly cut wood highly flammable once ignited. Indigenous Australians traditionally used the rough, tuberculated fruit capsules as rasps for preparing edible roots and other foods.
Ploi 소개
Ploi는 별점 4.99의 식물 관리 앱으로, 식물의 성장 과정을 시간 순으로 기록하는 사진 일기 기능을 제공해요. 타임라인 뷰로 정리된 사진을 통해 식물 발달의 모든 단계를 추적할 수 있어요. 적응형 물 주기 알림, 종별 관리 가이드, 모든 종류의 활동 추적, AI 식물 식별 기능도 제공해요. iOS, Android, 웹에서 이용할 수 있어요.
