Bubbia whiteana A.C.Sm.

Smith, A.C. (1943) Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 24: 145. Type: Queensland, Daintree River region, 14 Mar. 1932, Brass 2278; holo: A.

Usually grows into a small tree but also flowers and fruits as a shrub.

Leaves crowded at the ends of the twigs and branches. Leaf blades about 4-12 x 1.3-3.5 cm, almost white on the underside, base attenuate, margins strongly recurved. Oil dots visible with a lens. Leaves somewhat aromatic (?) when crushed. Lateral veins difficult to discern.

Inflorescences 1.2-2.5 cm long, 1-2-flowered; pedicels 8-18 mm long; calyx 2-3 lobed. Petals 6 or 7, ovate, 6-6.5 mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm  wide. Stamens 14-19. Carpels 1-4; ovules 7-10.

Fruit globular or ovoid, 8-12 mm long, black when ripe. Seeds 3-6, oblong-ovoid, slightly falcate, 4.5-5 mm long.

Cotyledons orbicular, about 7 mm diam., underside white. Hypocotyl longitudinally striated. First pair of leaves obovate, underside white. Midrib depressed on the upper surface of the leaf blade. Petioles reddish. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade obovate, margins strongly recurved, Leaf blade almost white on the underside. Petioles about 1-2 mm long. Lateral veins difficult to discern. Seed germination time 398 days.

Endemic to NEQ, known only from the Thornton Peak and Mt Pieter Botte areas. Altitudinal range from 800-1500 m. Grows as an understory plant in mountain rain forest.