Eumachia frutescens (C.T.White) Barrabé, C.M.Taylor & Razafim.

Rubiaceae

Taylor, C.M. et al (2017) Candollea 72(2): 310.

Turkey Bush

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-3 m tall.

Stipules broadly triangular, about 4 mm long, +/- encircling the twigs and persisting on the twigs even when the leaves have fallen. Leaf blades rather large, about 8-20 x 3-6 cm.

Calyx minutely 4-5-lobed. Corolla tube about 3 mm long, corolla lobes about 1 mm long. Corolla glabrous on the outer surface but densely hairy on the inner surface. Anthers about 1.5-2 mm long.

Fruits about 10-12 x 7-8 mm. Seeds about 6 x 5 mm, usually two per fruit, each seed enclosed in a tough endocarp with the consistency of human fingernail. Embryo small, about 1-1.5 mm long, radicle longer and wider than the cotyledons. Endosperm hard.

Cotyledons stipulate, broadly ovate, about 14-17 x 12-16 mm. First pair of leaves opposite and stipulate. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade narrowly elliptic, glabrous. Stipules interpetiolar, about 3 mm long, abruptly narrowed into an aristate tip. Seed germination time 83 to 91 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 800 m. Grows as an understory plant in undisturbed lowland and upland rain forest. Usually found in the drier, more seasonal types of rain forest.

Hodgkinsonia frutescens C.T.White, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 53: 220 (1942), Type: Lectotype: Australia. Queensland: Yungaburra, 24.XII.1939, Flecker s.n. (BRI [BRIAQ0317424]; isolecto- : CNS [QRS14066]). Syntype : Australia. Queensland: Atherton, Cook Pastoral District, XI-XII, A.L. Merrotsy s.n. (BRI [BRI-AQ0318037]).