Erythroxylum sp. Brewer LA (B.Hyland 13373)

Erythroxylaceae

Provisional HISPID phrase name.

Cooktown Kerosenewood; Kerosenewood; Brown Plum; Plum, Brown

Dead bark layered.

Leaf blades about 5.5-10 x 2-4 cm. Stipules about 0.4-1 cm long, enclosing the terminal bud, and shed as each new leaf expands. Stipular scars encircling the twigs. Midrib raised on the upper surface and lateral veins forming loops inside the blade margin.

Flowers about 3-4 mm diam. Petals with a pronounced ruffle on the inner surface midway between the base and the apex. Stamens ten. Staminal filaments fused towards the base to form a cup-shaped structure which surrounds the lower half of the ovary. Styles much shorter than the ovary.

Fruits +/- ellipsoid, about 11-15 mm long.

Cotyledons linear, about 12 x 2 mm. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves elliptic, glabrous on the upper surface; stipules enclosing the terminal bud, narrowly triangular, 10-15 mm long, positioned between the petiole and stem. Seed germination time 51 to 220 days.

Occurs in NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 800 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on a variety of sites. Also occurs in Malesia and the Solomon Islands.

Fruit eaten by Fruit Pigeons. Cooper & Cooper (1994).

The name Erythroxylum ecarinatum Hochr. has previously been misapplied to Australian material of this species.

Erythroxylum nottii J.Clarkson MS. Erythroxylum ecarinatum Hochr., Plantae Bogorienses Exsiccatae : 79(1904), Type: Originaire de lile dAmboine dans les Indes neerlandaises. Erythroxylum ecarinatum Burck, Ann. Jard. Bot. Btzg 11: 191(1893).