Alectryon connatus (F.Muell.) Radlk.

Sapindaceae

Radlkofer, L.A.T. (1878) Sitzungsberichten der k. bayer Akademie der Wissenschaften, Math.-Phys. Classe, 1878 : 299.

Alectryon

A small tree seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh.

Leafy twigs longitudinally grooved or striated, clothed in yellowish or yellow-brown hairs at least when young. Leaflets usually 2-4 per compound leaf, sessile or very shortly stalked. Leaflet blades about 4-12 x 4.5 cm.

Calyx lobes broadly ovate, about 1.5 mm long. Petals present, slightly longer than the calyx, inner surface hairy. Base of the ovary surrounded by an orange gland. Ovary hairy on both the inner and outer surfaces.

Fruit about 8-12 x 8-20 mm, pubescent on the outer surface. Inner surface of each locule hairy. Seeds black. Aril cupular, red, margin crenate. Embryo green, cotyledons folded.

Cotyledons about 5-7 mm long. First pair of leaves simple, toothed or lobed, subsequent leaves pinnate with two leaflets. At the tenth leaf stage: leaflet blades hairy on the upper surface, densely (or rarely sparsely) so on the lower surface, hairs tortuous, pale; lower surface of the leaflet blade green. Seed germination time 13 to 164 days.

Occurs in WA, CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as south-eastern Queensland. Altitudinal range from sea level to 800 m. Grows in monsoon forest, beach forest and similar vegetation types. Also occurs in New Guinea.

A small tree that has potential for cultivation in gardens in drier areas. Flowers are greenish yellow.

Nephelium connatum (F.Muell.) Benth., Flora Australiensis 1: 465(1863). Spanoghea connata F.Muell., Transactions and Proceedings of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria 3: 26(1859), Type: In wooded valleys near Moreton Bay. Hill and Mueller. [given by P.W.Leenhouts, Blumea 33 (1988) 317 as Hill & Mueller, Que