Angle-stemmed myrtle (Gossia gonoclada)

The Angle-stemmed myrtle (Gossia gonoclada) is an endangered native tree that grows in riverine rainforest areas. Around 73 known trees grow in Logan and Brisbane. Endemic to our region, it grows nowhere else in the world.

Protecting the Angle-stemmed myrtle

Our Gossia gonoclada recovery plan 2019 to 2029(PDF, 3MB) will help protect the endangered Angle-stemmed myrtle. This plan aims to conserve tree populations in Logan and ensure their long-term viability.

This plan aims to conserve populations of this tree species in Logan and ensure its long-term viability.

Gossia gonoclada is also protected under state and federal legislation, including the Nature Conservation Act (NCA) 1992 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC) 1999. Taking any Gossia gonoclada plant is prohibited under these acts.

How you can help

We need your help to find the endangered Angle-stemmed myrtle.

Keep an eye out while you’re at parks, natural areas and even in your own backyard. If you spot one, please email environment@logan.qld.gov.au or phone 07 3412 3412 and share your sighting with us. Our officers will verify these trees and help manage them into the future.

What to look for

The Angle-stemmed myrtle is part of the Myrtaceae family, which includes eucalypts and paperbarks.

Habitat - Riverine rainforest areas and riparian areas in vine and rainforest vegetation near watercourses.

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Height at maturity - Up to 18 metres, but commonly found as 'shrubs' 1 to 3 metres in height.

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Young trees - Young trees are shorter, appear less bushy, with fewer leaves and branches.

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Fruit - Globular, glossy purple-black fruit, 7 to 12 millimetres in size when ripe, appear in mid to late Summer.

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Bark - Flaky, furrowed or scaly. Pale brown to grey in colour. Its bark is one of the best ways to tell it apart from similar looking plants.

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Angled stems - Leaves have four raised edges on their branchlets, hence the name Angle-stemmed myrtle.

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Mature leaves - Mature leaves are glossy and a deep green colour.

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Young leaves - Young leaves, that follow emerging growth, are a bright pale green colour.

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Emerging leaves - A pink flush of leaves covers the tree when emerging leaves grow in late spring to summer.

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Flowers - Delicate white flowers appear each Spring. Each flower grows from the base of the leaves.

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Flower size - Flowers have 4 or 5 smooth petals and range from 6 to 9 millimetres in diameter.

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Unripe fruit - Unripe fruit, in its early stages is paler, and greener in colour

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Fruit in later stages - In its later stages the fruit appears less glossy and may split.

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Telling it apart

It’s easy to mistake the Angle-stemmed myrtle for another common plant called Lilly pilly (Syzygium australe).

When young it can also be mistaken for weeds like Brazilian cherry (Eugenia uniflora).

Lilly pilly flower (Syzygium australe) - The white flower of the Lilly pilly is easily confused for the Angle-stemmed myrtle.

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Brazilian cherry flower (Eugenia uniflora) - The Brazilian cherry flower looks similar to the Angle-stemmed myrtle flower.

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Lilly pilly bark - The bark of the Lilly pilly is visibly smoother than the Angle-stemmed myrtle, with less ridges.

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Find out more

Find out more about the Angle-stemmed myrtle in this episode of Back from the Brink, by Natura Pacific.

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