Mischocarpus macrocarpus S.T.Reynolds

Reynolds, S.T. () Flora of Australia 25: 200. Type: Millaa Millaa Lookout, State Forest Reserve 650, Qld, 17 deg 29 S, 145 deg 34 E, 1 June 1982, F.Crome 886; holo: BRI; iso: QRS.

Large Fruited Mischocarp

Usually encountered as a small tree to about 30 cm dbh but recorded to 50 cm dbh.

Twigs and compound leaf rhachis +/- glabrous at maturity, puberulous only when young, marked by longitudinal grooves. Leaflets about 4-6 in the compound leaf, each leaflet blade about 13-21 x 4.5-5.5 cm. Leaflet stalks swollen at their junction with the compound leaf rhachis. Reticulate veins forming a fine network on both the upper and lower surfaces. Lateral veins forming only obscure loops inside the blade margin. Midrib glabrous, raised in a groove on the upper surface.

Calyx lobes (tepals) +/- free from one another, about 2 mm long. Petals absent. Stamens eight. Disk crenulate annular, glabrous.

Fruits glabrous, about 2-3.8 cm long (including the stipe) x 0.8-1.6 cm. Capsule glabrous on the inner surface. Seeds about 10 x 8 mm, almost completely enveloped by the aril. Cotyledons green.

First pair of leaves ovate, blades about 5-8 cm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade narrowly ovate, about 15-25 cm long, apex acuminate, base cuneate, glabrous; terminal bud clothed in very short, prostrate hairs. Seed germination time 15 to 44 days.

Endemic to Queensland, occurs in NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range from 700-1200 m. Grows in well developed upland and mountain rain forest.

Seed complete with aril is eaten by Fruit Pigeons. Cooper & Cooper (1994).