Denhamia pittosporoides F.Muell. subsp. pittosporoides

Celastraceae

Jessup, L.W. (1984) Flora of Australia 22: 154.

Denhamia, Veiny; Boxwood, Orange; Denhamia; Orange Boxwood; Veiny Denhamia

A yellow or orange layer normally visible beneath the dead bark.

Leaf blades about 7-11 x 1.5-2.5 cm, clustered on sections of the twigs in pseudowhorls. Midrib raised on the upper surface. Stipules small and inconspicuous.

Petals about 2.5 mm long. Staminal filaments about 1.5 mm long. Style about 1-1.3 mm long. Ovary with two, rarely four, ovules per locule.

Capsules about 12-16 mm long with woody valves about 16 x 10 mm. Calyx persistent at the base. Seeds globular, about 5 x 3-4 mm. Testa thin, covered with orange glands. Cotyledons about 4 x 4 mm, radicle about 1 mm long.

Cotyledons broadly elliptic to broadly ovate, about 12-16 x 10-13 mm. First pair of true leaves usually alternate, sometimes subopposite. Margins serrate. At the tenth leaf stage: cataphylls often present among leaves. Leaf blades oblong to obovate to obovate, margins toothed in the apical half. Stipules very small, about 0.25 mm long and often more obvious when brown and moribund. Stem terete to slightly 4-angled. Seed germination time 61 days.

Endemic to Australia, occurs in NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as north-eastern New South Wales. Altitudinal range in NEQ from 600-1000 m. Grows in the drier types of rain forest.

Denhamia pittosporoides F.Muell., Transactions and Proceedings of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria 3: 30(1859), Type: Scotts station, Araucaria Ranges at the source of the Burnett River. C. Moore s. n., syn: MEL. Leucocarpum pittosporoides (F.Muell.) F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 6: 203(1868).