Gen. (AQ520454) sp. Shute Harbour (D.A.Halford Q811)

Provisional HISPID phrase name.

Usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-5 m tall but occasionally grows into a small tree.

Stipules broad-based, keeled on the outer (abaxial) surface but abruptly narrowed into an awl-like apex. Leaf blades about 8-12 x 3-6 cm, domatia (if present) are foveoles (with hairy pits) and may be visible even from the upper surface. Petioles about 0.2-0.3 mm long.

Flowers pleasantly perfumed. Calyx lobes absent or reduced to very small teeth visible only with a lens. Corolla tube about 15-19 mm long, lobes of a similar length. Anthers +/- sessile.

Fruit surface smooth, not ribbed or rugose. Fruits ovoid, about 20 x 9 mm. Calyx tube or other remnants of the calyx present at the apex of the fruit. Pericarp flesh orange in colour. Seeds about 3-4 x 2-3 mm, laterally compressed. Testa surface rough. Embryo about 1.5 mm long, cotyledons wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons obovate to orbicular, about 8-9 x 7-9 mm. First pair of leaves opposite, stipules keeled, interpetiolar, about 1.5-2 mm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade obovate, about 30-45 x 10-11 mm, base cuneate, petiole very short, about 1-1.5 mm long. Stipules interpetiolar, triangular, about 2 mm long. Seed germination time 87 to 133 days.

Probably endemic to Queensland, occurs in CYP, NEQ and CEQ. Grows as an understory plant in rain forest, monsoon forest and vine thickets.

Believed to be a new genus and species within the family Rubiaceae.