Baloghia inophylla (EUPHORBIACEAE) Scub Bloodwood

Medium tree to 15 metres or dense shrub widespread in all types of warmer rainforest; north from Tilba Tilba NSW including Melanesia. Bark exudes a clear sap which turns red. Due to this resin, it will burn when green, unusual for a rainforest tree.

Leaves simple, opposite, elliptic to oblong, thick, tough, both surfaces smooth but ridged slightly by raised venation, green and shiny, paler below, abruptly tapered to a point at the apex, the widest part of the leaf.

Flowers are perfumed, creamy/white, in terminal racemes from August to October. Separate male and female flowers on same plant.

Fruit 12-18 mm capsule green turning brown containing (but not always)3 mottled-brown seeds December to March.

The sap was used by early settlers as a tonic astringent and for staining furniture and marking convicts’ clothing.

Baloghia is a genus of plants under the family Euphorbiaceae. It comprises 12 species, found in Australia (Queensland, New South Wales), New Caledonia and Norfolk Island.

Baloghia after Dr Joseph Balogh who wrote a book on the plants Of a northern provence of Romania. Balogh is a Hungarian surname.

Propagate from fresh seed. Can also be grown from cuttings which strike easily.

Seldom seen in cultivation, but an attractive plant.

Stipules when shed leave a scar encircling the stem above some pairs of leaves.

Two glands (looking little more than slightly-raised leaf rims) can be seen at the base of the leaves. Characteristic, but not very conspicuous. This photo was taken with a hand lens help up against the camera lens, using the macro setting.