Neosepicaea jucunda (F.Muell.) Steenis

Bignoniaceae

Steenis, C.G.G.J. van (1957) Nova Guinea Series 2 8: 174.

Jungle Vine; Vine, Jungle; Jungle

Vine stem diameters to more than 7 cm recorded. Living bark layer quite thick, e.g. 15 mm. Blaze marked by white granular stripes and white fibrous stripes. Lenticels often large and conspicuous.

Leaflet blades about 8.5-17 x 4-6.5 cm, leaflet stalks about 0.5-3.5 cm long. Middle leaflet larger than the lateral leaflets. Stalk of the middle leaflet longer than those of the lateral leaflets. Compound leaf petiole about 3-10.5 cm long. Lateral leaflet blades oblique at the base. Lateral veins about 8-10 on each side of the midrib, forming loops inside the blade margin.

Flowers about 12-15 mm diam. at anthesis. Calyx tube about 5-7 mm long, lobes about 1-2 mm long. Corolla 2-lipped, corolla tube curved, about 30 mm long, lobes about 3-5 mm long. Stamens attached to the corolla tube about 5 mm from the base. Staminal filaments about 25-30 mm long, densely pubescent near the base, glabrous elsewhere. Filaments attached to the back of the anthers near the apex, connective absent and anther sacs almost free from one another. Disk green, about 3 mm high, lobed at the apex and surrounding the ovary. Style about 30 mm long, stigmas 2, flat.

Capsules about 8-11 x 2-3.5 x 2 cm, 2-valved. Seeds numerous, pale brown, each seed flat with wings on each side surrounding the seed. Seed + wing about 26-40 x 12-13 mm. Embryo about 5-6 x 8-9 mm. Cotyledons reniform, almost bilobed, about 6 x 9 mm, deeply notched at the apex.

Cotyledons +/- reniform, wider than long, about 13-16 x 18-22 mm, apex deeply emarginate, base cordate. First pair of leaves elliptic, glabrous (except for the midrib on the upper surface), apex bluntly pointed, base attenuate. At the tenth leaf stage: seedling completely glabrous, leaf blade elliptic to obovate-oblanceolate, apex acuminate, base attenuate, gradually merging into the petiole. Midrib raised or flush with the upper surface. Lateral veins forming loops inside the blade margin. Numerous crater-like glands visible on the underside of the leaf blade. Small stipule-like glands present on the stem between the petiole bases. Seed germination time 15 to 21 days.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 1100 m. Grows in well developed lowland, upland and mountain rain forest.

This species could have some horticultural value as it can produce quite decorative bunches of pink to reddish flowers.

Haussmannianthes jucunda (F.Muell.) Steenis, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 41: 51(1929). Nyctocalos jucundum (F.Muell.) Seem., Journal of Botany 8 : 149(1870). Haussmannia jucunda F.Muell., Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 4: 148(1864), Type: Seaview Range, Rockingham Bay. [given by van Steenis, Proc. Roy. Soc. Queensland 41 (1929) 51 as Seaview Range, Rockingham Bay, Dallachi; P. L.