Dansiea elliptica Byrnes

Byrnes, N.B. (1981) Austrobaileya 1(3): 385. Type: Cook District: S F R 310, Goldsborough L.A., 17 deg 15 S 145 deg 45 E, 18 Jan 1878, B.Hyland 3657RFK; holo: BRI.

Hard, narrow, brittle, orange-brown stripes in the blaze. Sometimes small amounts of clear exudate are produced from the inner blaze, exudate darkens on exposure.

Leaf blades about 3-8.5 x 1-3.5 cm. Small oil dots visible with a lens. Glands normally present on the margin of the leaf blade just above its junction with the petiole (normally 1 or 2 glands on each side).

Flowers about 20 mm long. Stamens ten. Ovary fused to one side of the floral tube. A bilobed gland-like structure also attached to the floral tube opposite the ovary. Ovules about 14-20 in each flower.

Fruits two or 4-winged, wings formed from two bracteoles in the flower. Fruits about 18-25 x 18-25 mm overall, including the wings. Wings papery, venation +/- radiating from the centre.

Cotyledons much wider than long, about 7 x 14 mm, +/- truncate at the apex. Venation obscure but 3 veins usually visible radiating from the base. First pair of leaves small, +/- orbicular. At the tenth leaf stage: young shoots clothed in pale +/- prostrate hairs, leaves +/- lanceolate, apex acute, base attenuate; oil dots small, visible only with a lens. Seed germination time 76 days.

Occurs in CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as coastal central Queensland. Altitudinal range in CYP and NEQ from near sea level to 950 m. Grows in monsoon forest and well developed lowland and upland rain forest. Also occurs in Malesia and the Pacific islands.