Mezoneuron nitens (F.Muell. ex Benth.) R.Clark & Gagnon

Fabaceae

Clark, R.P. (2016) Phytotaxa 274(1): 33-34.

Sprawling shrub or woody vine with stems several metres long; stipules 2, free, lanceolate, falling early; buds and young stems hairy; stems becoming glabrous; stems, rachises of leaves and inflorescence axes bearing prickles, straight or curved, 2 - 10mm long; stems later having corky flanges.

Bipinnate, alternate, 60 - 200mm long; ‘stipules’ at base of leaflets prickly; leaf comprising 2 - 5 primary leaflets, each consisting of 2 - 5 pairs of secondary leaflets; petiole 10 - 35mm; laminas broad-ovate, 10 - 30mm by 5 - 15mm, entire; upper surface glossy dark-green; paler below; pinnately veined with 5 - 8 main laterals each side of midrib, distinct but faint both surfaces.

Bisexual, zygomorphic, 6 - 10mm diam., yellow, in terminal panicles or racemes in upper axils; peduncles and pedicels prickly; sepals 5, the lowest larger; petals 5, subequal; stamens 10, about 6mm long, all fertile; carpel 1; ovary superior; fruit rarely set.

A dry pod, ovate, 25 - 30mm long; narrowly winged on upper margin; seed 1, flattened.

Features not available.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CEQ and southwards to near Noosa. Altitudinal range from 100 to 500 m. Usually grows in rainforest, vine forests, dry rainforest and beach forests.

Caesalpinia nitens (F.Muell. ex Benth.) Pedley, Austrobaileya 5(1): 99 (1997). Pterolobium nitens F.Muell. ex Benth., Flora Australiensis 2: 279 (1864), Type: AUSTRALIA: Queensland, Mt. Mueller, near Edgecombe Bay, 12 Deca. 1863, J. Dallachy s.n., MEL (MEL48871!).

2701