Uvaria holtzei F.Muell.

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1883) Southern Science Record 3 : 175. Type: Near Port Darwin; Maurice Holtze, Esq.

Torres Strait Scrambler

Usually grows as a tall tree top vine.

Leaf blades about 4-18 x 3-8 cm, petioles about 0.4-0.6 cm long. Midrib on the upper surface of the leaf blade clothed in hairs. Leaves glabrescent. Terminal buds, petioles and young twigs clothed in golden brown hairs.

Flowers solitary or 2 or 3. Petals 6 in two whorls (3+3), 12-15mm long x 10-13mm wide, dull red, tomentose. Stamens numerous, outer ones flat 4.5-5 x 2-3 mm; inner ones 4.5-5 x 1.6mm. Carpels ca. 50; ovary ca. 3 mm long; style 0.7 mm long. Stigma obovoid.

Fruiting carpels borne in 'umbels'. Each carpel about 1-2.5 cm x 1-1.50 cm, glabrescent, black. Seeds discoid, smooth, brown.

Features not available.

Occurs in NT & also New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Malesia. Altitudinal range not great, found from near sea level to 100 m (?) Grows as a shrub or vine in or on the margins of monsoon forest, gallery forest and rain forest.