Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Gynochthodes jasminoides (A.Cunn.) Razafim. & B.Bremer


Vine
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Flowers. © CSIRO
Leaves and Flowers. © CSIRO
Fruit. CC-BY J.L. Dowe
Scale bar 10mm. © CSIRO
Cotyledon stage, epigeal germination. © CSIRO
10th leaf stage. © CSIRO
Vine stem bark and vine stem transverse section. © CSIRO
Family

Razafimandimbison, S.G. & Bremer, B. (2011) Adansonia 33(2): 291.

Common name

Morinda; Morinda, Sweet; Jasmine Morinda; Morinda, Sweet; Jasmine, Native; Native Jasmine; Sweet Morinda; Sweet Morinda; Morinda, Jasmin

Stem

Vine stem diameters to 7 cm recorded. The irregular radial lines or segments of bark and wood form a pattern in transverse sections of the stem resembling drainage patterns into a central lake or spokes of a wheel.

Leaves

Leaf blades about 3-11.5 x 1-4.5 cm, petioles about 0.4-1.2 cm long. Lateral veins usually 3 or 4 on each side of the midrib, forming loops inside the blade margin. Stipules about 1.5-4 mm long, sheathing the twigs. Domatia are cave-like foveoles which register their presence because of humps which are apparent even on the upper surface of the leaf blade.

Flowers

Flowers about 8-10 mm diam. Calyx about 0.8-1.5 mm long, lobes absent. Corolla tube about 5-6 mm long, lobes about 3-4 mm long. Anthers bright yellow, about 2 mm long, protruding beyond the corolla tube. Pollen orange.

Fruit

Fruits +/- globular, about 8-12 mm diam., surface marked by numerous crater-like pits. Pyrenes quite hard to cut. Seeds numerous, irregular in shape, about 2.2-4 x 1.7 mm. Embryo about 1-1.2 x 0.3 mm. Cotyledons scarcely wider than and about one third of the length of the radicle.

Seedlings

Cotyledonary stipules short, apices rounded. First pair of leaves elliptic-ovate, stipules linear, apices very acute. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade about 6 x 2 cm, petiole about 1 cm long. Midrib raised on the upper surface. Stipules interpetiolar with 2 stipules at each node, stipules broad-based, apices acuminate and very acute. Stem above the cotyledons densely hairy. Hypocotyl glabrous and longitudinally 2-ridged. Seed germination time 101 days.

Distribution and Ecology

Occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as Victoria. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from near sea level to 1500 m. Grows in monsoon forest, lowland, upland and mountain rain forest. Also occurs in New Guinea.

Synonyms

Morinda jasminoides A.Cunn., Botanical Magazine 61: t. 33 (1834). Type: New South Wales, Port Jackson, Mar. 1821, A. Cunningham; holo: K?.

RFK Code
2050
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