Pendressia Explained

Pendressia wardellii is a species of flowering plant in the family Monimiaceae, and is the sole species in the genus Pendressia. It is a tall shrub to small tree endemic to north-eastern Queensland. It has egg-shaped to elliptic leaves, male flowers and female flowers on separate plants, male flowers with 10 to 15 stamens and female flowers with 8 to 10 carpels, and red drupes.

Description

Pendressia wardellii is a tall shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of . Its leaves are egg-shaped to elliptic, long and wide on a red petiole long. The midvein is prominent on both surfaces of the leaves. Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. Male flowers are borne in large, highly branched clusters long, each flower more or less spherical to club-shaped, about in diameter with 2 pairs of tepals and usually 10–15 stamens. Female flowers are borne in small clusters long, each flower more or less spherical with 8 to 10 carpels. Flowering occurs from September to December, and the fruit is a red, more or less spherical drupe, long and wide.[1] [2]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1866 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Mollinedia wardellii in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected near Rockingham Bay by John Dallachy.[3] [4] In 1898, Janet Russell Perkins transferred the species to Wilkiea as W. wardellii[5] and in 2018 Trevor Paul Whiffin placed it in the new monotypic genus Pendressia as P. wardellii. The specific epithet (wardellii) honours von Mueller's friend, William Wardell.

Distribution and habitat

Pendressia wardellii grows in rainforest at altitudes between on the Windsor, Mount Carbine and northern Atherton Tablelands in north-east Queensland.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Whiffin . Trevor J. . Foreman . Donald B. . Pendressia wardellii . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra . 27 May 2024.
  2. Ford . Andrew J. . Whiffin . Trevor P. . Pendressia, nom. nov. (Monimiaceae), a new generic name for Wilkiea wardellii from north-east Queensland. . Telopea . 2018 . 21 . 148 . 10.7751/telopea12579 . 27 May 2024.
  3. Web site: Mollinedia wardellii. APNI. 27 May 2024.
  4. Book: von Mueller . Ferdinand . Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae . 1866 . v.5 1865-66 . Victorian Government Printer . Melbourne . 155 . 27 May 2024.
  5. Web site: Wilkiea wardellii. APNI. 27 May 2024.