Cossinia

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Cossinia is a small group of four rainforest trees in the soapnut family (Sapindaceae). The species are found in separate parts of the world: the Mascarene Islands, Australia, New Caledonia, and Fiji. They grow in rainforests and in some seasonally dry, non-fire-prone areas.

Some species are at risk: Cossinia trifoliata, native to New Caledonia, is listed as vulnerable to extinction. Cossinia australiana, found in central-eastern and southeastern Queensland, Australia, is endangered at national and state levels. In many areas, native forests have been heavily cleared, and threats have continued.

Taxonomy and history: The genus was first described in 1786 by Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, with Cossinia pinnata as the type species. Cossinia triphylla was named earlier by Commerson, but is now treated as the same species as C. pinnata. In 1982, Sally Reynolds described Cossinia australiana and updated the classification to recognize four currently accepted species.