The buff alder (Apodytes brachystylis) is a common understory tree in well-developed rainforests from sea level to 1200m. The genus (around 8 species are recognised) is distributed from Africa through Asia to the western Pacific, but A. brachystylis is endemic to (found only in) north Queensland and is most common in upland rainforests from Cooktown to Townsville.
The leaves have a wavy margin and the leaf stems (petioles) are yellowish with a grooved upper surface. The flowers are small (petals 3-4.5mm long) with hairs on the inner surface.
Right: Leaves (Photo by Russel Cumming on Flickr)
None of these features make it easy to spot this species during a casual walk through the rainforest, however, once the fruit drops ) to the ground (November to February) this species is unmistakable. Usually what drops is a very handsome combination of a dark blue-black receptacle (the basal part of the flower) and a bright green carpel (the seed bearing structure that contains the ovaries, stigma and style).
Photo by Will Cairns
Based on my frequent encounters with the fallen fruit on the tracks around Paluma it appears to be quite common around the village. There is a tagged specimen (White Tag Number 16) of the tree about 3/4 of the way down the slope toward the main plank bridge on the H-Track (starting from Whalley Crescent.
Text and Photos (unless indicated) by Jamie Oliver