Tetrastigma thorsborneorum Jackes

Jackes, B.R. (1989) Austrobaileya 3(1): 155. Type: Queensland, Gustav Creek, Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island, 19 09 S, 146 51 E, 15 March 1985, B.R.Jackes; holo: BRI; iso: A, CANB, K, L, MEL, NSW.

Vine stem diameters to 5 cm recorded. Stem vessels large, readily visible to the naked eye.

Compound leaves bipinnate with 7-9 leaflets. Leaflets about 6-12.5 x 2.5-6 cm, lateral leaflet stalks about 0.3-0.8 cm long. Stalks of the terminal leaflets about 3 cm long, longer than those on the lateral leaflets. Leaflet blades serrate, usually with 2-4 teeth on each side, mainly towards the apex. 'Oil dots' elongated. Tendrils usually branched and leaf opposed. Oak grain in the twigs.

Male flowers: Inflorescence about 3-5 cm long. Calyx about 0.5 mm long. Petals about 2 x 1.5 mm, apex hooked or hooded. Petals strongly reflexed at anthesis. Staminal filaments about 1.5 mm long, anthers about 0.5 mm long. Female flowers: Inflorescence about 3.5-7 cm long. Pedicels about 3 mm long. Calyx about 0.5 mm long. Petals about 2.5 x 1.5 mm. Staminodes present. Ovary broadly conical, about 1.5 mm long, stigma sessile, 4-lobed. Ovary 2-locular. Ovules 2 per locule. Fide Jackes (1989).

Fruits shiny, globose or ellipsoid, about 15 x 12 mm, flesh burnt orange. Seeds globose to ellipsoid, about 7-11 x 6-7 mm, testa surface sculptured. Embryo white, about 2.5-4 mm long. Cotyledons broadly lanceolate, about 1-2 mm long. Radicle about 1-2 mm long. Cotyledons about as long as, but wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons ovate, about 37-45 x 21-31 mm, apex acute or obtuse, base cordate, +/- three-veined or with an intramarginal vein, midrib raised on the upper surface. First pair of leaves simple, ovate to elliptic, about 8-9 x 5-6 cm, margins sparsely toothed with three or four teeth on each side, midrib raised on the upper surface. Stipules broadly triangular, about 2 mm long. Third leaf trifoliolate. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf compound, pedate with five or six leaflets, middle or terminal leaflet larger than the laterals. Leaflet blades elliptic or elliptic-obovate, apex acuminate, base cuneate or oblique. Lateral veins about 4-6 on each side of the midrib. Margins serrate with two to five teeth on each side. 'Oil dots' elongated to some extent. Stipules broadly triangular, about 3 mm long. Tendrils leaf-opposed, two-branched. Seed germination time 41 to 72 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 450 m. Grows in the drier more seasonal lowland and upland rain forest.