Wilkiea smithii explained

Wilkiea smithii is a species of flowering plant in the family Monimiaceae, and is endemic to north-eastern Queensland. It is a shrub or small, slender tree with elliptic or oblong leaves and male and female flowers on separate plants. Male flowers are borne in clusters of about 5 and have 8 tepals and 2 pairs of stamens and female flowers have 20 to 40 carpels. The fruit is a glaucous, purplish to black drupe.

Description

Wilkiea smithii is a shrub or small, slender tree that typically grows to a height of . Its leaves are elliptic or oblong long and wide on a 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 leaf axils, in clusters of about 5, long, each flower more or less spherical to club-shaped, about in diameter on a pedicel long with 8 tepals and usually 2 pairs of stamens. Female flowers are borne in leaf axils or on the ends of branches in clusters of about 3, mostly about long, each flower more or less spherical, on a pedicel long, with 20–40 carpels. Flowering occurs from August to December, and the fruit is a glaucous purplish to black, oval drupe, long and wide.[1]

Taxonomy

Wilkiea smithii was first formally described in 2007 by Trevor Paul Whiffin in the Flora of Australia from specimens collected in 1995 by Bruce Gray.[2] The specific epithet (smithii) honours Lindsay Stuart Smith "in recognition of his botanical contributions to Queensland rain forests.

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in a drier rainforest at altitudes from from south of Cooktown to north of the Atherton Tableland in northeast Queensland.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Whiffin . Trevor J. . Foreman . Donald B. . Wilkiea smithii . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra . 26 May 2024.
  2. Web site: Wilkiea smithii. APNI. 26 May 2024.