Ceratopetalum apetalum

Coachwood

Family: Cunoniaceae

Ceratopetalum apetalum is a straight medium sized tree growing to 25m in rainforest habitat in deep sandstone gullies. In the park it can be clearly seen on walks heading towards de Burghs Bridge. The bark is grey and smooth, with patches of white lichen which change to pink in the Autumn.

The large, tough, lance-shaped leaves are serrated, and distinguished by a "bump" at the base of the leaf.

Masses of creamy white flowers gradually turn pinkish as summer progresses. The flower colour is actually in the sepals, as there are no real petals (apetalum).

Ceratopetalum apetalum belongs to the same family and is very similar to the NSW Christmas Bush, but its leaves are larger and the sepals become pink rather than red.

The light coloured timber was used in the early Sydney colony for coachbuilding and in World War 2 for rifle butts made in Australia.

The main flowering time of Ceratopetalum apetalum is November, with the sepals showing pink in December.