Atalaya hemiglauca
Family: Sapindaceae
Small shade tree usually reaching 6m high with greyish-green leaves and a weeping habit. The creamy white flowers appear in abundance in spring and summer and are followed by papery, winged fruit.
Very useful in the home garden as a shade tree as it will grow in a variety of soil types including rocky and clay soils. Can be slow growing and sensitive to frost when young but once established it is very low maintenance.
In the wild this tree is particularly tolerant of drought and fire. It suckers and regenerates after a fire event. It tends to grow where there is no spinifex.
Where to find this plant at Alice Springs Desert Park
These trees can be seen growing naturally throughout the greater site of the Desert Park and also within the Desert Rivers and Woodland habitats and around the car park.
Source:
Forth, F., & Vinter, A., 2007. Native Plants for Central Australian Gardens, Greening Australia, Alice Springs
Latz, P., 2004. Bushfires and Bushtucker, IAD Press, Alice Springs
Moore, P., 2005. A Guide to Plants of Inland Australia, Reed New Holland, Sydney
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:154792