Embelia caulialata S.T.Reynolds

Reynolds, S.T. (1991) Austrobaileya 3(3): 362. Type: Queensland, Cape Tribulation, 16 05 S, 145 29 E, 28 May 1982, K.A.W.Williams 82050; holo: BRI.

Vine stem diameters to 9 cm recorded. Cambial layer turns purple on exposure. Pith often red on smaller stems.

Leaf blades about 4-9.5 x 2-4 cm, petioles about 0.5-1.1 cm long, sometimes narrowly winged, grooved on the upper surface. Oil dots mainly clear and orbicular, sometimes elongated, scattered reddish oil dots also present.

Male flowers: Inflorescence a large panicle of racemes. Flowers perfumed, each flower about 4 mm diam. Calyx tube about 0.3 mm long, gland-dotted. Calyx lobes about 0.8 mm long, gland-dotted, margins fimbriate or laciniate. Petals gland-dotted, about 2 mm long, clothed in hairs or papillae. Staminal filaments about 0.5 mm long, anther connective marked by several rounded surface glands. Female flowers: Inflorescence a large hairy panicle. Flowers unpleasantly perfumed, about 3-4 mm diam. Sepals triangular, about 0.6-1 mm long, outer and inner surfaces clothed in hairs. Petals elliptic, about 2-3.5 x 1 mm, outer surface densely clothed in short hairs. Ovary +/- globose, about 1 mm high. Ovules two per ovary, embedded in the basal placenta.

Fruits globular, about 3.5-5.5 mm diam., calyx persistent at the base and style persistent at the apex. Placenta basal. Seeds globular, about 2-3 mm diam., outer surface sparsely dotted with dark resinous glands. Testa intruding slightly into the endosperm. Conspicuous yellow resin glands present in the endosperm. Embryo curved, transverse in the seed, about 1.5-2 x 0.2 mm. Cotyledons about 0.2 mm long, no wider than the radicle. Radicle straight or slightly curved.

Cotyledons ovate, about 7-12 x 4-9 mm, apex mucronate. Oil dots large, reddish or honey-coloured. Margins ciliate with about 3-7 teeth on each side. Lower surface clothed with gland-like hairs. First pair of leaves elliptical, margins serrate with about 6-9 teeth on each side. Lower surface of the leaf blades clothed in short, glandular hairs. Oil dots translucent, orbicular and elongated. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic to obovate, apex acuminate, base cuneate, margin with about 11-25 teeth on each side. Oil dots circular or elongated (cigar-shaped) pale or reddish in colour. Terminal bud clothed in short gland-like hairs and similarly the young stems which are also gland-dotted. Midrib depressed on the upper surface. Venation obscure. Stems narrowly 2-winged with a pair of wings extending from the point of attachment of each petiole down the stem to the next node. Seed germination time 41 to 78 days.

Occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 500 m. Grows in lowland and upland rain forest. Also occurs in New Guinea.