Parsonsia rotata Maiden & Betche

Maiden, J.H. & Betche, E. (1905) Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales n. ser., 29 : 744. Type: Hastings R.(G.R. Brown, about 1890); Lismore (W. Bauerlen; Feb., 1891); Burringbar, between Tweed & Richmond R.(E.Betche); Pt Macquarie, (Maiden).

Veinless Silkpod; Silkpod, Veinless; Corky Silkpod; Silkpod, Corky

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

Leaf blades about 5.5-15 x 2-6 cm, petioles about 1-2.2 cm long. Several glands, resembling stipules, occur in a line on the twigs between the bases of the point of attachment of the petioles and between the petiole bases and the axillary buds. Large lenticels usually visible on the surface of the older twigs. Twig and petiole exudate clear and copious.

Inflorescence up to 5 cm long, umbelliform, pedicels about 6 mm long. Flowers about 11-13 mm diam., each flower subtended by a bract about 1.5-2 mm long. Calyx tube about 2.5 mm long, lobes about 2.5 mm long. Corolla tube about 3 mm long, lobes about 6 mm long. Corolla hairy in the throat. Anthers about 3 mm long, filaments glabrous, about 4.5 mm long, coiled or twisted around the style. Anthers fused to form a cone. Nectary (disk) glands 5, surrounding the ovary. Style and stigma about 5 mm long.

Fruits about 16-21 x 5 cm, longitudinally striated. Seeds numerous, about 13 x 2.5 mm. Plumes about 40-60 mm long, attached to the end of the seed. Embryo about 8-10 mm long, cotyledons about 6.5 mm long, curved in cross section. Radicle about 2.5 mm long.

Cotyledons about 20-35 x 7-11 mm. First pair of true leaves narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic, up to 60 x 19 mm, venation obscure, midrib depressed on the upper surface, petioles produce a clear exudate. At the tenth leaf stage: seedling completely glabrous, stipules or glands about 0.5-1 mm long, leaf blade narrowly elliptic, about 9-10 x 1.5-2 cm, apex acute, base cuneate. Seed germination time 17 to 69 days.

Occurs in CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards as far as north-eastern New South Wales. Altitudinal range in northern Australia from 200-800 m. Grows in various types of upland rain forest on a variety of rock types.