Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Diploglottis obovata S.T.Reynolds


Shrub (woody or herbaceous, 1-6 m tall)
Tree
Click/tap on images to enlarge
Leaf and inflorescence [not vouchered]. CC-BY: S. & A. Pearson.
Flower [not vouchered]. CC-BY: S. & A. Pearson.
Immature fruit [not vouchered]. CC-BY: S. & A. Pearson.
Fruit [not vouchered]. CC-BY: S. & A. Pearson.
Family

Reynolds, S.T. (1987) Austrobaileya 2(4): 330. Type: Queensland, North Kennedy District: Dryander Creek about 2 km N of Gregory and about 20 km N of Proserpine, 10 Nov 1985, P. Sharpe 4169 (holo: BRI; iso: BRI).

Common name

Blunt-leaved Tamarind

Stem

Tree to 8 metres, often spreading; buds and young stems densely hairy with rusty-brown simple hairs; stems becoming glabrous; stipules absent.

Leaves

Pinnate, alternate, 150 - 300mm; terminal leaflet absent; petiole 20 - 60mm; leaflets 4 - 6, opposite or alternate; lamina obovate to elliptic, 40 - 165mm by 35 - 70mm, entire; pinnately veined with 16 - 20 main laterals either side of midrib, impressed and distinct above, raised and prominent below; upper-surface glabrous; under-surface with simple hairs along midrib and lateral veins; petiolules 3 - 10mm; apex obtuse to rounded; base truncate or obtuse.

Flowers

Inflorescence thyrsoidal, 75 - 190mm long, in upper axils; flowers white to yellow or green, 4 - 5mm in diameter, functionally unisexual (but appearing bisexual); plants monoecious, male and female flowers on the same inflorescence; pedicels 2 - 3mm; sepals 4 or 5, 3.5mm long, finely hairy outside, fused at base, lobes 2 - 3mm by 1 - 1.5mm; petals white, 5, 2.5 - 3mm long; male flowers with 6 - 8 stamens strongly exserted on one side of flower and a rudimentary ovary; female flowers with 6 - 8 staminodes and a 3-locular, superior ovary.

Fruit

Dry, an obovoid capsule, 14 - 22mm long, 2-3-lobed, yellow to brown; seed 1 per lobe, brown; aril fleshy, orange or red, nearly covering seed.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to CEQ. Altitudinal range from 40 to 800 m. Usually grows in vine forest on creek banks.

RFK Code

1269

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