Delarbrea michieana (F.Muell.) F.Muell.

Myodocarpaceae

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1889) Second Systematic Census of Australian Plants : 105.

Blue Nun; Delarbrea

Usually grows as a small tree seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh but usually flowers and fruits as a shrub.

Base of the compound leaf petiole swollen and clasping the stem or twig. Leaflets near the base of the compound leaf very reduced and scale-like but increasing in size upwards until the maximum size is attained towards the apex of the compound leaf rhachis. Leaflet blades variable, up to 21 x 9 cm. Twigs very pithy.

Inflorescence pendulous. Petals about 2.5-3.2 mm long. Staminal filaments about 2-3 mm long.

Fruits about 15-20 mm long, iridescent blue. Testa pitted on the outer surface and intruding into the endosperm. Embryo quite small, the cotyledons scarcely distinguishable even with magnification.

Cotyledons may be 5-veined. At the tenth leaf stage: terminal leaflets 3-veined, lateral leaflets penninerved; simple leaves 3-veined with long petioles; terminal leaflet of compound leaf with a long stalk, remainder with short stalks. Seed germination time 136 to 189 days.

Endemic to NEQ, widespread from Cooktown to Tully. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1000 m. Grows as a small understory tree in different types of well developed rain forest.

Satin Bowerbirds sometimes use this fruit as decoration. Cooper & Cooper (1994).

The colour of the fruits of this species is quite startling. It is more than likely that the colour or its ability to reflect light of other wave lengths is important in attracting dispersal agents (e.g. birds).

Porospermum michieanum F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 7: 95(1869), Type: Ad sinum marinum Rockinghams Bay; J. Dallachy.