Hard Pink Alder
Ostrearia australiana Baill.
Ostrearia australiana is a species in the Hamamelidaceae family, commonly known as Hard Pink Alder. It is the first described of three monotypic Australian genera in this family, and is most closely related to Neostrearia, Noahdendron, Trichocladus, and Dicoryphe, forming a distinct clade. The genus Ostrearia is monotypic, containing only this species.
Description
Ostrearia australiana, described in 1872, is native to Queensland. It is part of the witch-hazel family, Hamamelidaceae, and represents a unique lineage within the family. This species is closely related to other monotypic genera such as Neostrearia and Noahdendron, as well as to Trichocladus from southern Africa and Dicoryphe from Madagascar. These five genera form a distinct evolutionary group within the Hamamelidaceae family.
Other common names
Hard Pink Alder
Distribution
Queensland
Synonyms
Ostrearia australina