Melicope peninsularis explained

Melicope peninsularis is a species of small tree in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to tropical north Queensland. It has trifoliate leaves and white flowers borne in short panicles in leaf axils.

Description

Melicope peninsularis is a tree that typically grows to a height of and has a slender trunk. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and trifoliate on a petiole long. The leaflets are sessile, elliptical, long and wide. The flowers are arranged in panicles about long in leaf axils and are bisexual and the sepals about long and fused at the base, the petals white, long and there are four stamens. Flowering has been recorded in February and the fruit consists of four follicles long and fused at the base.^{[1] [2]}

Taxonomy

Melicope peninsularis was first formally described in 2001 by Thomas Gordon Hartley in the journal Allertonia from specimens collected in the Lockerbie Scrub in 1992.^{[3] [4]}

Distribution and habitat

This melicope grows in rainforest and is only known from the tip of Cape York Peninsula and on Darnley Island in the Torres Strait.

Conservation status

This species is classified as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Book: Hartley . Thomas G. . Wilson . Annette J.G. (ed.) . Flora of Australia (Volume 26) . 2013 . Australian Biological Resources Study . Canberra . 102–103. 27 July 2020.
2. Web site: Melicope peninsularis . F.A.Zich . B.P.M.Hyland . T.Whiffen . R.A.Kerrigan . Bernard Hyland . 2020 . Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8) . . 2 July 2021.
3. Web site: Melicope peninsularis. APNI. 27 July 2020.
4. Hartley . Thomas Gordon . On the Taxonomy and Biogeography of Euodia and Melicope (Rutaceae) . Allertonia . February 2001 . 8 . 1 . 217 . 23189298 .
5. Web site: Species profile—Melicope peninsularis . Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science . 27 July 2020.