Elaeocarpus hylobroma

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Elaeocarpus hylobroma is a flowering tree in the Elaeocarpaceae family that grows only in north‑east Queensland, Australia. It can reach up to about 18 meters tall and often coppices, with pinkish‑red adventitious roots.

Leaves and branches
Leaves cluster near the ends of branchlets. They are elliptic to egg‑shaped or oblong, 37–106 mm long and 10–30 mm wide, on a 5–19 mm petiole. The upper surface is glossy green, the lower surface is paler, and each leaf has 2–6 small serrations near the tip.

Flowers and fruit
Flowers are arranged in racemes 18–51 mm long, with 5 cream‑coloured to white sepals and 5 white petals. The petals have 6–9 narrow triangular lobes at their tips, and there are 11–14 stamens. The tree flowers in November. The fruit is a dull blue, oval drupe about 17.5–20 mm long and 11–13 mm in diameter.

Taxonomy and name
Elaeocarpus hylobroma was formally described in 2012 by Yumiko Baba and Darren Crayn from specimens collected in Dinden National Park in 2004. The name hylobroma means “forest food,” referring to the seeds being a food source for native animals.

Habitat and distribution
This species grows in mountain rainforest in the Wet Tropics bioregion of north‑east Queensland, at elevations around 900–1,300 meters.

Conservation status
The species is listed as “least concern” under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992. It is sometimes called a quandong.