Mezoneuron erythrocarpum (Pedley) R.Clark & Gagnon

Clark, R.P. (2016) Phytotaxa 274(1): 35-36.

Large Prickle-Vine

Vine stem diameters to 3 cm recorded. Corky processes about 1-2 cm long usually present on the stem. Sometimes the corky processes are tipped with a spine.

About 50-120 leaflets per compound leaf. Leaflet blades about 8-25 x 6-16 mm, much paler on the underside, slightly oblique, leaflet stalks about 0.5-1 mm long. Lateral veins often difficult to distinguish. Stipules are small spiny hooks usually less than 1 mm long. Downward pointing spines present on the primary compound leaf axis at the points of attachment of the secondary axes. Secondary axes about 5 pairs.

Flowers about 12-14 mm diam. Calyx lobes (sepals) about 4.5-5 mm long, perhaps slightly fused at the base. Petals about 6-6.5 mm long. Stamens 10. Anthers sparsely clothed in rather long hairs. Staminal filaments clothed in rather long hairs, particularly towards the base. Ovary laterally compressed, about 1.5 mm long, densely clothed in prostrate brown hairs. Ovules two. Style about 6-7 mm long. Stigma oblique, excavated, margins hairy or tuberculate.

Fruits flat, about 25-40 x 20-25 mm, winged along one edge, the wing about 4 mm wide. Seeds flat, about 8-15 mm diam. Cotyledons about 8-10 x 7-8 mm.

First leaf bipinnate with 4 secondary axes and 32 leaflets. Leaflets small, about 3-5 mm long. The primary compound leaf axis and each of the secondary axes end in a linear gland about 2 mm long. Spiny projections produced on the upper surface of the compound leaf where the secondary axes and leaflets are attached. At the tenth leaf stage: most plant parts armed with slender spines up to 5 mm long. Each compound leaf is bipinnate with about 16-20 secondary axes. Each secondary axis produces about 6-10 leaflets. Leaflet blades about 5-6 x 2.5 cm, leaflet stalks less than 1 mm long. Seed germination time 16 days.

Occurs in CYP. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 200 m. Grows in disturbed areas in monsoon forest. Also occurs in New Guinea.