Marsdenia microlepis Benth.

Bentham, G. (1868) Flora Australiensis 4: 342. Type: Queensland, Rockhampton, 9 June 1863, J. Dallachy; lecto: K; iso: MEL. Fide P. I. Forster Austral. Syst. Bot. 8:785 (1995).

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

All plant parts produce a copious milky exudate. Leaf blades about 1.7-8.5 x 1.5-9.5 cm, petioles about 0.6-2.5 cm long. About 2-9 colleters (small finger-like glands) present on the upper surface of the midrib near its junction with the petiole. Upper and lower leaf blade surfaces hairy. Lateral veins four or five on each side of the midrib.

Inflorescence hairy, umbelliform. Peduncles about 16 mm long. Pedicels about 5-6 mm long. Flowers subtended by bracts about 2-2.5 mm long. Sepals hairy, about 1.5 mm long, with small glands near the base on the inner surface. Corolla glabrous, tube about 2 mm long, lobes about 1 mm long. Staminal column about 1.8-2 mm long. Anther + terminal appendage no more than 0.5 mm long. Anthers sessile. Pollen aggregated in pollinia. Carpels about 1 mm long. Ovules numerous. Stigma thick and flat like a cog, about 0.5-0.75 mm diam.

Fruits obpyriform to ovoid, very thick and woody, about 7-7.5 x 3 cm. Seeds numerous, flattened, about 8 x 5 mm. Plumes about 35-40 mm, attached to one end of the seed. Embryo about 5.5 mm long, cotyledons much wider than the radicle.

Features not available.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in NEQ, CEQ and southwards almost to south-eastern Queensland. Altitudinal range in NEQ from 200-500 m. Grows in vine thicket and monsoon forest.