Suriana maritima L.

Linnaeus, C. von (1753) Species Plantarum 2: 284. Type: Habitat ad littora maris in Bermudis, Jamaica.

Cedar, Bay; Bay Cedar

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-4 m tall.

Leaves without veins or veins very difficult to discern. Leaf blades about 20 x 4 mm, puberulent on both the upper and lower surfaces. Twigs pubescent.

Sepals about 5-10 x 2-4 mm. Petals shortly clawed, about as long as the sepals. Stamens ten, dimorphic, five long and five short, anther filaments hairy. Ovaries densely clothed in erect white hairs. Ovules 2 per carpel (ovary). Styles five, i.e. one per carpel (ovary), attached laterally towards the base.

Nutlets about 2.5-3 mm diam., +/- enclosed in the persistent perianth. Nutlets pubescent, style remnants attached towards the pointed end. Testa very thin and fragile.

Features not available.

Occurs in NT, CYP, NEQ and in southern coastal central Queensland but not in CEQ. Altitudinal range very small, being found on beaches close to sea level. Grows in beach forest and strand vegetation. Also occurs in Asia, Malesia and the Pacific islands.