Pavetta granitica F.Muell. ex Bremek.

Rubiaceae

Bremekamp, C.E.B. (1934) Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 37 : 123. Type: Queensland, Burdekin, Ferd. Mueller s.n.; holo: K.

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-5 m tall.

Stipules fused together, tubular, sheathing the stem, apex acuminate. Leaf blades about 9.5-13 x 0.8-2.5 cm, both the upper and lower surfaces hairy. Petioles short, about 0.2-1 cm long. Lateral veins about 6-10 on each side of the midrib.

Pedicels about 1-4 mm long. Calyx lobes reduced to small teeth about 0.5-1 mm long. Corolla tube about 8-15 mm long, hairy on the inner surface, lobes about 5-7 mm long. Anthers about 5-6 mm long. Style about 2.5-3.5 cm long, stigma green, hairy and club-shaped.

Fruits globular or depressed globular, about 5-9 x 8-10 mm, calyx persistent at the apex. Seeds about 4-6 x 3-7 mm. Embryo about 2.5 mm long, cotyledon bases cordate.

Cotyledons orbicular, about 9-15 mm diam., petiole very short or absent. First pair of leaves elliptic. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade obovate, about 65 x 20 mm, +/- sessile, petioles very short, about 3-4 mm long, lateral veins about 5-6, forming loops inside the blade margin. Stipules about 3-6 mm long, fused to one another at the base but the apices free and linear. Seed germination time 18 to 300 days.

Probably endemic to Australia, occurs in NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range in NEQ from 200-800 m. Grows on rocky outcrops in open forest areas but also found in monsoon forest and vine thickets.

A well shaped shrub that has white perfumed flowers. This species has a place in gardens in dryer areas.

Pavetta tomentosa Sm., Rees' Cyclopedia 26 : n. 2(1814), Type: Sent from India by Dr. Roxburgh. Pavetta indica var. stenophylla Domin, Bibliotheca Botanica 89(4): 1177(1928), Type: Queensland, ad fl. Gilbert River (DAINTREE) crescit (cf. F. v. MUELLER Fragm. IX. 182, 1875). Pavetta modesta Bremek., Repertorium Specierum Novarum Regni Vegetabilis 44 : 26(1938), Type: Queensland, between Petford and Boonmoo, 224 Jan. 1931, Hubbard et Winders 6864 A; holo: ? iso: BRI. Fide Reynolds (1993).