Cissus vinosa Jackes

Jackes, B.R. (1984) Austrobaileya 2(3): 494. Type: Queensland, 15 km E of Wallaman Falls, 18 36 S, 145 50 E, 15 November 1986, B.R. Jackes 8612; holo: BRI; iso: A, BISH, CANB, CBG, DNA, JCT, K, L.

Vine stem diameters to 6 cm recorded. Stems slightly laterally flattened. Subrhytidome layer bright orange-yellow.

Stipules short and broad, +/- orbicular, about 2.5-4 mm diam. Leaf blades about 4.5-14 x 3-9 cm, petioles about 1.8-4 cm long, channelled on the upper surface. Leaf bases often auriculate, lower surface of the leaf blade finely pitted. Lateral veins five or six on each side of the midrib, leaf blade three-veined at the base. Margins toothed, teeth small and mucronate, about eight on each side. Small streaky 'oil dots' visible with a lens but only from the upper surface. Tendrils branched (two-armed) leaf-opposed. Leafy twigs distinctly four-angled in transverse section.

Inflorescence produced on the twig opposite a leaf. Flowers about 5 mm diam. on pedicels about 3-4 mm long. Calyx cup-shaped, about 0.5 mm high, lobes not obvious. Petals caducous, about 2.5-3 mm long, hooded. Stamens about 2 mm long. Ovary three or four-lobed, seated on a disk. Style about 1 mm long. Stigma terminal. Ovules 2 per locule.

Fruits globose, about 6.5-11 mm diam. +/- tear-drop shaped. Seeds about 5 mm diam., apex often mucronate. Testa rugose. Embryo about 1.3-2.5 mm long. Radicle about 0.7-1.25 mm long. Cotyledons about 1-1.25 mm wide, much wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons about 10 x 21-22 mm, i.e. wider than long. Petioles about 8 mm long. Cotyledon oil dots cigar-shaped. First leaf cordate, margin toothed, stipules present. At the tenth leaf stage: leaflet blades ovate to truncate or cordate, usually reddish on the underside. Apex acuminate, base cordate. Midrib and main lateral veins raised on the upper surface. Margins with about 12 teeth on each side. Tendrils branched, leaf-opposed. Elongated 'oil dots' visible with a lens. Stiples about 3 mm long, apex obtuse. Seed germination time 40 days.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1100 m. Grows in well developed lowland and upland rain forest.