Vitex melicopea F.Muell.

Mueller, F.J.H. von (1865) Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 5: 35. Type: In silvis urbi Rockhampton vicinis. Thozet & Dallachy.

Vitex

Stem often finely fluted. Thin, orange layers visible in the blaze.

Leaflet blades about 4-10 x 2-4 cm, with scattered, pale yellow glands visible with a lens on the underside, midrib depressed on the upper surface. Lateral veins about 8-14 on each side of the midrib.

Inflorescence about 8-18 cm long, pedicels pubescent, about 1-2 mm long. Calyx tubular, minutely 5-toothed at the apex, pubescent and glandular outside, glabrous within. Tube cylindrical, about 1.5-2.5 x 1.5-2 mm, lobes about 0.5 mm long. Corolla tubular in the lower half, but 5-lobed at the apex. Outside pubescent and densely glandular, tube villous inside with the hairs extending to the large anterior lobe of the lower lip. Tube +/- cylindrical, enlarged upwards, about twice the length of the calyx, about 3.5-5 x 2-3.5 mm at the apex, lobes about 2.5-4 mm long. Stamens exserted, attached to the lower half of the corolla tube, filaments filiform, glabrous in the upper half, but villous in the lower half, about 4-6.5 mm long, anther locules free and divaricate in the lower half. Ovary globose, glandular at the top, with a few hairs between the glands, glabrous in the lower half, about 1-1.5 mm diam. Style exserted, glabrous, filiform, about 7-9 mm long, stigma bifid.

Fruits globular to somewhat ellipsoid, glabrous except for a few glands and hairs at the apex, 4-10 x 4.5-12 mm, calyx accrescent, persistent at the base. Seed enclosed in a stone about 4 x 3 mm, seeds about 2.5 x 1.5 mm. Embryo about 2 mm long, cotyledons much wider than the radicle.

First pair of leaves elliptic, margin with 2 or 3 teeth on each side. Upper surface of the leaf blade clothed in short hairs, the lower surface with hairs only along the midrib. Numerous pale spherical glands visible on both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blades. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate, apex acute, base obtuse, leaf blade toothed almost all around the margin; numerous, small, pale glands present on the upper surface of the leaf blade, similar glands present on the petiole and stem, upper surface glabrous or with hairs along the margin of the leaf blade. Seed germination time 33 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP, NEQ, CEQ and also in south-eastern Queensland. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 600 m. Grows in gallery forest and drier, more seasonal rain forest.