Phyllanthera grayi (P.I.Forst.) Venter

Apocynaceae

Venter, H.J.T. & Verhoeven, R.L. (2001) Annals Missouri Botanical Garden 88: 566.

Vine stem diameters to 7 cm recorded. Lenticels large and conspicuous. Vascular rays appear to be present in the wood of stem transverse sections but closer inspection reveals that the vessels are in radial lines and this gives the impression that there are vascular rays between the lines of vessels.

Twigs and petioles produce a milky exudate. Leaf blades about 8-15 x 3.5-8 cm, petioles about 1.2-3.5 cm long. A collar extends out from the twig and surrounds the base of each petiole where it joins the twig. This collar may be a much modified stipule or it could have a different origin. Stipule-like glands may be present on the collar or in the axils of the petioles. Leaf blades very pale or glaucous on the underside. Colleters absent.

Inflorescence about 17 x 20 cm. Flowers about 20-23 mm diam. Sepals broad, about 2 mm long. Petals asymmetrical, twisted and curved, about 10-11 mm long. Corolla tube absent or very short. Stamens 6-7 mm long with an apical appendage about 2 mm long. Translators about 2.5 mm long. Ovules numerous in each locule. Style head about 3 mm diam.

Fruits ellipsoid, about 11 x 4 cm, furrowed on one side, apex pointed. Seeds numerous in each fruit. Seeds about 12-13 mm long. Plumes about 30-35 mm long. Embryo about 9-10 mm long. Cotyledons conspicuously veined, wider and longer than the radicle. Radicle sometimes bent.

Seed germination time 18 to 25 days. Cotyledons about 28-35 x 14-18 mm, petioles clothed in glandular hairs with a few also along the midrib on the lower surface. Midrib papillose, raised on the upper surface. First leaves narrowly elliptic, apex acuminate, base cuneate. About five stipule-like, finger-shaped glands present in leach leaf axil. Hypocotyl papillose. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade narrowly elliptic, apex acuminate, base cuneate. Midrib +/- flush with the upper surface, lateral veins about 11-6 16 on each side of the midrib. Colleters nil. Lower surface of the leaf blade cream in colour, venation green. Petioles produce a milky exudate. Black or almost black stipule-like, finger-shaped glands present in the leaf axils.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 800 m. Grows in lowland and upland rain forest.

Cryptolepis grayi P.I.Forst., Austrobaileya 3(2): 279(1990), Type: Qld, Tolga Scrub, 17 14S, 145 28E, 9 November 1979, B.Gray 1561 (holo: QRS; iso: BRI).