Mesua sp. Boonjee (A.K.Irvine 1218)

Provisional HISPID phrase name.

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Exudate meagre, sticky.

Leaf blades about 6-10 x 2-3 cm. Oil dots visible with a lens, usually one oil dot per reticulation. Midrib slightly raised on the upper surface. Petiole channelled on the upper surface.

Inflorescences shorter than the leaves. Staminal filaments 3-5.5 mm long, anthers 0.4-0.7 mm long, anther thecae C-shaped. Anther connective terminating in a gland.

Fruits +/- obovoid, enclosed in the persistent sepals, fruits +/- sepals about 25-35 x 25-35 mm.

Three pairs of cataphylls usually produced before the first true leaves. First pair of leaves narrowly elliptic, apex acuminate, base cuneate. Midrib slightly raised on the upper surface. Usually one oil dot per reticulation in the leaf blades. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves lanceolate with a short mucro at the apex; oil dots visible with a lens, usually one per reticulation. Midrib slightly raised on the upper surface. Seedling entirely glabrous. Taproot somewhat swollen. Seed germination time 99 to 149 days.

Endemic to NEQ, restricted to a small area on the south-eastern rim of the Atherton Tableland in the Boonjee area and another small area north of the Daintree River near Noah Creek. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 800 m. Grows in well developed rain forest on, or on the edge of, basalt.