Heterostemma acuminatum Decne.

Apocynaceae

Decaisne, J. (1838) Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 2 9: 268. Type: Java, Leschenault s.n.; holo: P.

A slender vine not exceeding a stem diameter of 2 cm.

Twigs slightly flattened, i.e. laterally compressed. Twigs and petioles produce a clear or milky exudate. Leaf blades about 7.5-16 x 4-13 cm, petioles about 3.5-6 cm long. A line of small 'glandular stipules' present on the twigs between the points of attachment of the petioles of each pair of leaves. Several (about 10) colleters (small finger-like glands) present on the upper surface of the midrib near its junction with the petiole.

Inflorescence a panicle of compound racemes or umbels. Flowers about 10-12 mm diam. Sepals about 2 mm long, margins fimbriate. Corolla tube about 3 mm long (more disk-like than tubular), lobes about 4 mm long, glabrous. Staminal corona ornate, star-shaped, 5-lobed, each lobe about 1.1 x 1 mm, spur-like, alternating with the corolla lobes. Pollen aggregated in pollinia. Carpels about 1.5 mm long. Ovules numerous.

Fruiting carpels usually paired. Individual fruiting carpels about 10-13 x 0.5-0.6 cm. Seeds numerous, each seed about 13-15 x 7 mm, curled around an imaginary longitudinal axis. Plumes silky, white, about 20-40 mm long attached to the end of the seed. Embryo about 11-12 mm long, cotyledons about 8 mm long, radicle about 3 mm long.

Cotyledons elliptic, about 20-28 x 10-14 mm, 3-veined at the base. First leaves ovate, apex acuminate, base obtuse, upper and lower leaf surfaces clothed in hairs. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate, apex acuminate, base cordate. Upper and lower leaf blade surfaces clothed in minute hairs at least when young. Midrib depressed on the upper surface, lateral veins about 4-5 on each side. Colleters about 5. Stipule-like glands about 0.5 mm long present on the stem between the points of attachment of the petioles. Stems twining. Petioles and stems clothed in pale brown hairs. Seed germination time 57 days.

Occurs in CYP, NEQ, CEQ and further south in Queensland. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 680 m. Grows in vine thicket, monsoon forest and open areas in rain forest. Also occurs in New Guinea and other parts of Malesia.

Vincetoxicum calcaratum (Benth.) Kuntze, Revisio Generum Plantarum 2: 424(1891). Tylophora calcarata Benth., Flora Australiensis 4: 335(1868), Type: Queensland. Rockhampton, Thozet 510; holo: K; iso: MEL.