Cleistanthus apodus Benth.

Bentham, G. (1873) Flora Australiensis 6: 122. Type: Queensland. Cape York, MGillivray, Daemel; Rockhampton Bay, Dallachy.

Weeping Cleistanthus

A small tree generally less than 20 cm dbh. Blaze layering fairly fine.

Leafy twigs rather slender, about 1 mm diam. Petiole finely wrinkled transversely. Leaf blades about 5-10 x 2-5 cm, paler green on the underside. Young shoots almost glabrous. Lateral veins generally forming loops well inside the blade margin.

Flowers about 2 mm diam. Calyx glabrous throughout. Ovary densely clothed in pale coloured hairs.

Fruit disintegrating when ripe leaving the stalk and central axis attached to the tree. Capsule (without stalk) about 7 mm long.

Cotyledons remain in the seed coat and the first pair of leaves is produced before the seed coat is shed. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate, apex acuminate, base rounded; stipules very short, triangular, glabrous. Seed germination time 7 to 41 days.

Occurs in CYP and NEQ, widespread. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 400 m. Grows in well developed rain forest, particularly gallery forest along creeks and rivers. Also occurs in New Guinea.