Parapachygone longifolia (F.M.Bailey) Forman

Menispermaceae

Forman, L.L. (2007) Flora of Australia 2: 462.

Vine stem diameters to 3 cm recorded and this species may not grow much larger. Bark minutely tessellated.

Leaf blades rather thick and leathery, about 11-26 x 3-12 cm, petioles about 2-5.5 cm long, attached just inside the leaf blade margin, i.e. just peltate or almost peltate.

Male flowers borne in large axillary panicles, individual flowers about 4 mm diam. Sepals imbricate, in 2 or 3 whorls, the outer sepals bract-like and about 1.5 mm long, the innermost sepals petal-like, about 3.5 mm long. Petals thick and fleshy, obovate, about 1.5 mm long. Stamens 12, about 2.1 mm long, clavate, anthers 4-celled. Female flowers: flowers about 5 mm diam. Sepals imbricate, in 3 or 4 whorls, the outermost sepals bract-like, about 1.1 mm long, the innermost cup-like and 4 mm long. Petals rather thick, about 2 mm long. Carpels 4, each carpel about 1.8 mm long. Stigmatic surface broad, disk-like and undulate. Ovules 1 per carpel.

Fruits laterally compressed, sessile, about 35-40 x 28-35 mm. Style remnant close to the base or point of attachment of the fruiting carpel. Seeds (endocarps) shell-shaped (nautilus) about 22-27 x 18-24 mm. Surface sculptured. Embryo U-shaped. Cotyledons thick and fleshy almost forming a loop. Radicle about 2 mm long.

Six or more cataphylls produced before the first pair of true leaves. First pair of true leaves ovate, about 40-63 x 15-18 mm, apex acuminate, base cordate to auriculate. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate to elliptic, about 12-17.5 x 4.5-7 cm, apex shortly acuminate, base cordate to auriculate, almost peltate. Petiole about 2-2.5 cm long. Lateral veins forming indistinct loops inside the blade margin. Petiole base pustulate, pulvini pustulate. Midrib +/- flush with the upper surface. Seed germination time 32 to 97 days.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 750 m. Grows in well developed lowland and upland rain forest.

Pachygone longifolia F.M.Bailey, The Queensland Flora 1: 34(1899), Type: Queensland, Mourilyan Harbour, W. Mugford 37. Holo: BRI.