Ardisia pachyrrhachis (F.Muell.) F.M.Bailey

Primulaceae

Bailey, F.M. (1891) Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock Bulletin 9. Botany Bulletin 3: 14.

Mountain Ardisia

Oak grain in the wood.

Two types of oil glands visible with a lens, small, +/- circular, red dots and much larger, long, sinuous, red or translucent glands. Leaf blades about 12-24 x 2.8-5 cm, thick and leathery. Large vessels or ducts visible with a lens in the twig pith.

Petals about 4-5 mm long, marked by elongated, linear oil glands particularly on the outer surface.

Fruits depressed globular, about 10 x 11-13 mm, calyx persistent at the base. Pericarp and the epidermis marked by elongated, linear oil glands. Pericarp white or cream when freshly cut. Seeds about 6 x 6 mm. Cotyledons constitute only a small part of the whole embryo.

Cotyledons obovate, about 4-6 x 3 mm, almost sessile, margins +/- crenate towards the apex. Oil dots and/or glands or hairs visible with a x10 lens. First pair of leaves ovate or orbicular, thick and fleshy, marked by conspicuous, red streaky oil dots. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade purple below; streaky oil dots green below but clear above, visible with a lens or the naked eye. Margin sometimes with about 10 obscure teeth on each side. Seed germination time 80 to 522 days.

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to the area between Cooktown and Tully. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1500 m. Grows as an understory tree in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites.

Bladhia pachyrrhachis F.Muell., The Victorian Naturalist 8: 15(1891), Type: In the upper region of Mount Bartle-Frere; Stephen Johnson.