Wilkiea pubescens (Benth.) Whiffin & Foreman

Monimiaceae

Whiffin, T. & Foreman, D. (2007) Flora of Australia 2: 451.

Beech, Tetra; Tetra Beech

A small tree seldom exceeding 20 cm dbh. Oak-like grain in the wood.

Leaf blades about 5.5-9 x 2-3.5 cm. Lateral veins forming loops well inside the blade margin with a tendency towards a double series of loops. Leafy twigs generally hairy. Oak grain in the twigs. Oil dots difficult to distinguish even with a lens.

Inflorescence shorter than the leaves. Flowers about 3-4 mm diam. Tepals small and inconspicuous, inner surface of the receptacle glandular and pubescent. Staminal

Receptacle slightly swollen, densely pubescent to villous. Fruiting carpels ellipsoid, about 13-14 x 9-11 mm. Seed about 12 x 8 mm. Embryo about 6 mm long. Cotyledons wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons broadly ovate, about 25 x 20 mm, apex obtuse, base obtuse, 3-veined. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic, apex obtuse, acute or mucronate, base cuneate, midrib just raised on the upper surface, teeth small, none or 1-4 on each side of the leaf margin, glabrous; petioles, stem and terminal bud clothed in short pale hairs. Seed germination time 44 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range from sea level to 1200 m. Grows as an understory tree in rain forest on a variety of sites but more frequently encountered in the drier or more seasonal rain forests.

Tetrasynandra pubescens (Benth.) Perkins, Botanische Jahrbucher 25: 569(1898). Mollinedia pubescens (Benth.) F. Muell., Syst. Census Australian Plants : 3(1883). Kibara pubescens Benth., Flora Australiensis 5: 290(1870), Type: Queensland. Rockingham Bay, Dallachy, Lecto: K, fide T. Whiffin & D. Foreman (2007).