Myrsine rubiginosa Jackes

Jackes, B.R. (2005) Australian Systematic Botany 18: . Type: Queensland, T.R. 176, Shipton L.A., 8.ii. 1983, B. Hyland 12523; Holo: QRS; Iso: QRS.

Can grow into a small tree but usually flowers and fruits as a shrub 1-5 m tall.

Leaf blades about 3.0-8 x 1.5-3 cm, petioles about 0.3-0.4 cm long. Midrib raised on the upper surface of the leaf blade. Lateral veins about 10-17 on each side of the midrib. Oil dots reddish, +/- orbicular, clear oil dots not visible or difficult to see.

Flowers shortly pedicellate, pedicels about 1.5-2 mm long. Calyx tube shorter than the lobes, lobes less than 0.5 mm long. Corolla tube about 0.5 mm long, lobes about 1-2 mm long, corolla marked with orbicular glands. Anthers about 0.5 mm long. Ovary to 1mm long, globose, marked by numerous orange glands. Stigma sessile. Ovules 2-3.

Fruits globular, about 3-5 mm diam. Calyx persistent at the base, pedicels shorter than the fruits. Seeds globular, about 3.5-4 mm diam. Embryo about 2.5 mm long, cotyledons about as wide as but much shorter than the radicle.

Cotyledons elliptic or orbicular, about 4-7 x 4-5 mm. Margins toothed with about 3-6 teeth on each side. First pair of leaves +/- obovate, margins coarsely toothed. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade narrowly elliptic, margin toothed with about 6-10 teeth on each side. Oil dots mainly orbicular, reddish. Terminal bud and stem clothed in reddish gland-like hairs or processes. Seed germination time 59 days.

Endemic to NEQ, known only from a few collections made in the China Camp and Rossville areas. Altitudinal range from 300-450 m. Grows as an understory plant in rain forest and gallery forest. Sometimes found growing as a rheophyte.