94 
natural extent most likely declined early last 
century when the Springbrook Plateau was 
cleared of vegetation. However, existing 
populations of it are conserved in National 
Parks (Springbrook and Nightcap) and Nature 
Reserves, and it is not threatened at this time. 
Etymology : The species is named for Dr Aila 
Keto (1943-), founder and President of the 
Australian Rainforest Conservation Society , 
Austrobaileya 8(1): 91-95 (2009) 
who has made major contributions to the 
conservation of Australia’s rainforests and 
their World Heritage listing. 
Common name : woolly brush apple (Floyd 
1977). Harden (1991) gives the common 
name as woolly pear-fruit but this applies to 
Mischocarpus lachnocarpus. 
Key to Mischocarpus species in Australia 
1 Domatia present, as domes, pockets or small pits along the midrib of the 
leaflets below.2 
1. Domatia absent.9 
2 Leaves with 6-12 leaflets, white and papillose below together with 
appressed fine simple brown hairs, usually with a solitary dome 
domatium near the base. NE Qld. M. albescens 
2. Leaves with 2-6 leaflets; leaflets green or pale green below (not papillose), 
with cavity, pit or 1 or more dome domatia.3 
3 Domatia as conspicuous raised pockets or domes.4 
3. Domatia as small pits or pockets (not raised).6 
4 Leaflets 2-6, obovate-oblong, elliptic or ovate, 3.5-11.5 x 1.5-6.5 cm; 
domatia 1-7 per leaflet, raised domes near base of leaflet below.5 
4. Leaflets 5-8, elliptic to ovate, 5-18 x 1.5-8 cm; domatia 5-16 per leaflet, 
raised pockets along midrib below. Mcllwraith Ra. to Paluma, N Qld 
M. exangulatus 
5 Leaflets 2-4, domatia 1 or 2 at base of each leaflet; petals absent; filaments 
glabrous; capsules villous inside; aril purple. Daintree, NE Qld to 
Richmond River, NSW. M. anodontus 
5. Leaflets 2-6, domatia 1-7 per leaflet; petals present; filaments villous; 
capsules glabrous inside, aril orange. Thornton Peak to Mt Bartle Frere, 
above 950 m altitude, NE Qld. M. montanus 
6 Leaflets pubescent below; domatia 10-30 per leaflet as small concealed 
pockets along midrib at most lateral veins.7 
6. Leaflets glabrous below; domatia 4-20 per leaflet, visible with a hand lens 
as small pits c. 0.5 mm diameter.8 
7 Flowers with petals; stamens with pilose filaments; capsules globular 
or subglobular, yellow, 13-15 mm diameter on stipes 5-6 mm long, 
glabrous inside; seeds with yellow or yellow-orange aril. Mt Warning 
caldera: Springbrook, SE Qld to Mt Matheson, NE New South Wales 
.M. ailae 
7. Flowers without petals; stamens with glabrous filaments; capsules 
trigonous, red or red-orange, 5-8.5 mm diameter on stipes 4-7 mm 
long, villous inside; seeds with blue or purple aril. Bamaga to Paluma, 
NE Qld & New Guinea. M. lachnocarpus 
