Saurauia andreana Oliv. ex F.Muell.

Actinidiaceae

Mueller, F.J.H. von in Bailey, F.M. (1886) A Synopsis of the Queensland Flora, First Supplement : 7.

Andre's Suarauia; Saurauia

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh.

Terminal buds, young shoots, petioles and younger leafy twigs hairy. Leaf blades about 10-26 x 4-8.5 cm, midrib hairy on the upper surface; marginal teeth fine and numerous, occurring from the base to the apex and ending in hair-like tips.

Inflorescence shorter than the leaves. Calyx densely pubescent on the outer surface, glabrous on the inner, lobes about 7-9 mm long. Petals glabrous, about 12-14 mm long. Filaments of the outer ring of stamens fused to one another but the filaments of the inner stamens free from one another. Ovary glabrous, about 3-4 mm diam.

Calyx persistent, +/- enclosing the globular fruit which is about 5-8 mm diam. Seeds small, about 0.5-0.7 mm long. Testa reticulate with raised ridges.

Cotyledons +/- orbicular, about 2-3 mm diam. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves obovate, apex acuminate, base attenuate, margin serrate, teeth numerous, aristate, occurring from base to apex; both the upper and lower surfaces with numerous regularly spaced hairs; petioles, stem and terminal bud densely clothed in long pale brown hairs. Seed germination time 26 to 67 days.

Occurs in NEQ, restricted to the area between Cooktown and Cardwell. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 750 m. More common in lowland rain forest, often along watercourses. Also occurs in New Guinea.

This is the only Australian representative of the family Acitinidiaceae which includes the popular Kiwi Fruit (Actinidia chinensis).

Dillenia andreana F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 5: 175(1865), Type: Ad ripas fluminis Mackay-River. Dallachy.