Actephila latifolia Benth.

Phyllanthaceae

Bentham, G. (1873) Flora Australiensis 6: 89. Type: Queensland, Cape York, Daemel s. n. Lecto: K. (Fide Shaw 1981).

Flowers and fruits as a shrub about 2-3 m tall.

Leaves tend to be arranged in tight spirals or whorls along the twigs. Lateral veins curving but forming only indistinct loops inside the blade margin. Leaf blade about 13-21 x 5-7 cm. Petiole grooved on the upper surface.

Both male and female flowers produced on the same plant but male flowers are often difficult to distinguish. Flowers on pedicels about 4-5 mm long. Each petal ending in a tuft of hairs.

Capsules globular, about 14 mm diam., disintegrating completely at maturity. Pedicels 5-7 mm long. Tepals persistent at the base of the fruit. Endosperm scanty.

Cotyledons almost quadrangular, about 20-23 x 27-30 mm. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade +/- elliptic, about 10-12 x 3.5 cm, stipules broadly triangular, about 1-1.5 mm long. Seed germination time 24 to 66 days.

Occurs in NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range about 400 m. Grows as an understory plant in well developed upland rain forest.