Carronia protensa (F.Muell.) Diels

Menispermaceae

Diels, F.L.E. in Engler (1910) Das Pflanzenreich 46: 76.

Vine stem diameters to 8 cm recorded. Living bark layer very thin. Included bark forming rings in transverse sections of the stem.

Leaf blades leathery, about 8.5-25 x 5.5-18 cm, petioles about 1.5-8 cm long, grooved on the upper surface. Pulvinus large, about 1.5 cm long, narrowly grooved on the upper surface. A flat or flange-like swelling occurs where the petiole joins the twig. Reticulate venation very distinct on the lower surface.

Male flowers: Inflorescence about 24 cm long, clothed in dark brown hairs, flowers about 3-4 mm diam. Sepals numerous, 12-15, the 3 larger ones each about 3 mm long and the smaller ones about 1 mm long, outer surface clothed in brown hairs, inner surface glabrous. Petals yellowish orange about 0.5-3 mm long. Stamens 6, about 1-1.5 mm long, anthers about 0.25 mm long. Pollen white. Staminodes 6. Female flowers: Flowers about 2 mm diam. Sepals numerous, about 20 per flower, outer sepals less than 0.5 mm long, bract-like, innermost about 3.3 mm long. Sepals densely clothed in hairs. Petals 6, small, each about 1 mm long. Ovaries 6, each about 2 mm long. Style curved, glabrous, about 1 mm long. Ovules 1 per ovary.

Fruits laterally compressed, about 14-18 x 12-15 mm, surface clothed in short hairs. Endocarp about 11-12 x 8-9 mm, surface ridged and sculptured. Cotyledons thick and fleshy, curved, U-shaped or horseshoe-shaped. Radicle about 1 mm long, much shorter and narrower than the cotyledons.

First pair of leaves elliptic, ovate or lanceolate, apex acuminate, base peltate or cordate, about 4-6.5 x 2.5-3 cm, petioles about 1-1.1 cm long, pulvinus visible on each petiole. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic to obovate, about 9-10 cm long, apex acuminate, base cuneate, midrib raised on the upper surface. Lower surface of the leaf blade clothed in short pale and brownish appressed hairs, upper surface mainly glabrous. Stems and terminal buds densely clothed in very short, soft, brownish hairs. Seed germination time 105 to 203 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 800 m. Grows in gallery forest, lowland and upland rain forest.

Husemannia protensa F.Muell., Southern Science Record 3(5): 128(1883), Type: Qld, Daintree-River, Pentzke 1; syn: MEL, iso: BM. K; Endeavour-River, Persieh 300 & 636; syn: MEL. Fide Forman (1975) Kew Bull. 30: 97. Aristega husemannii F. Muell., Southern Sci. Rec. 3: 127(1883).