Wilkiea smithii Whiffin

Whiffin, T. (2007) Flora of Australia 2: 453. Type: Qld, State Forest Reserve 607, Shoteel Logging Area,, 23 Feb. 1995, B. Gray 6001; Holo: QRS.

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Oak grain in the wood and a corresponding pattern in the inner blaze.

Oak grain in the twigs. Terminal buds and younger leaf bearing twigs clothed in gold or pale brown erect hairs. Leaf blades about 9-14.5 x 3-6 cm. Lateral veins forming loops well inside the blade margin. Oil dots visible with a lens.

Inflorescence about 1-3 cm long, much shorter than the leaves. Tepals small, (two decussate pairs) up to 1-1.5 mm long. Receptacle villous on the outer surface. Anthers about 1-1.5 mm long, each opening by a horseshoe-shaped slit, filaments short. Female flowers +/- operculate. Carpel characters not available.

Receptacle orange-yellow, slightly swollen, pubescent. Fruiting carpels +/- sessile, ellipsoid, about 12 x 10 mm. Seed about 10-11 x 8-9 mm. Embryo about 3-4 mm long. Cotyledons slightly wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons broadly ovate, about 25-32 x 19-25 mm, apex obtuse, base obtuse. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade obovate or narrowly obovate, apex apiculate, base cuneate, margin serrate, about 2-8 teeth on each side on the upper half of each leaf blade, upper surface hairy at least along the midrib. Petiole, stem and terminal bud clothed in pale golden hairs. Seed germination time 89 to 422 days.

Probably endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from 200-800 m. Grows as an understory tree in drier or more seasonal rain forest often associated with Kauri Pine (Agathis robusta).