Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition
Piper hederaceum var. longiorispicum Spokes
Spokes, T.M. (2007) Flora of Australia 2: 458. Type: Queensland, Windsor Tableland, 5 Oct. 1971, B. Hyland 5538. Holo: BRI. Iso: NSW, QRS.
Vine stem diameters to 6 cm recorded.
Male flowers: not known. Female flowers: Inflorescence about 20-70mm mm long. Flowers about 12-15 mm long, each flower subtended by a peltate scale or bract which fills the space between the flowers. Ovary green. Stigmas white, 2-5-lobed.
Fruits aggregated into loose heads about 25-30 mm long. Individual fruits ellipsoid, about 4.5-7 x 3.5 mm on a stalk about 3-6 mm long. Seeds ellipsoid, about 3.5-4 x 3 mm. Embryo about 0.2-0.3 mm long. Cotyledons shorter than the radicle.
Cotyledons ovate, about 17-18 x 11-14 mm, apex mucronate. First pair of leaves cordate, apex acute or mucronate, base auriculate, densely clothed with hairs on the upper surface. Venation palmate. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade cordate, apex acute, upper and lower surfaces densely clothed in short hairs. Venation palmate. Oil dots orbicular and elongated. Stipules glabrous, about 13 mm long, enclosing the terminal bud and leaving an elongated triangular scar on the upper surface of the petiole. Seed germination time 54 days.