Rhodomyrtus effusa Guymer

Guymer, G.P. (1991) Austrobaileya 3(3): 382. Type: Queensland, c. 2 km on Daintree track from Whyanbeel Ck (16 22 S, 145 20 E), Jan. 1986, G.P.Guymer 2059; holo: BRI; iso: CANB, K, L, MEL, MO, NSW.

Occasionally grows into a small tree but usually flowers and fruits as a shrub. At other times it can resemble a vine with a very poor climbing mechanism.

Leaf blades about 8-18 x 4-8.5 cm, underside clothed in long brown hairs. Two intramarginal veins well developed, the outer one about 0.5-2 mm from the blade margin; the inner one up to 10-12 mm from the margin. Reticulate veins run from one intramarginal vein to the other. Oil dots rather sparse but usually denser between the outermost intramarginal vein and the leaf blade margin. Petiole short, about 1-3 mm long. Twigs and petioles densely clothed in erect, tortuous, rusty brown hairs.

Inflorescence shorter than the leaves. Flowers borne singly on stalks (peduncles) about 5-10 mm long. Calyx lobes about 4-6 mm long, densely hairy on the outer surface and sericeous on the inner surface. Petals +/- orbicular or hemispherical, about 4-6 mm diam., hairy on both the inner and outer surfaces (sometimes glabrous on the inner). Ovary pubescent at the apex. Ovules about 20-24 per locule. Stigma greenish, capitate.

Infructescence not exceeding the leaves. Fruits +/- globular, about 5-10 mm diam., clothed in long, prostrate, brown hairs, calyx lobes persistent at the apex. Seeds flattened, about 1.5 mm diam. Embryo U-shaped. Cotyledons small, no wider than the radicle. Radicle about 0.5 mm long.

Cotyledons ovate, about 3-4 x 2-3 mm. Stem above the cotyledons hairy and 4-angled. First pair of true leaves +/- 3-veined, margins sparsely hairy. At the tenth leaf stage: both the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf blade clothed in pale brown hairs, oil dots small, scattered, visible only with a lens. Lateral veins few and sparse, less than seven on each side of the midrib. Stem densely clothed in hairs. Seed germination time 36 to 55 days.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 200 m. Grows in disturbed or previously disturbed areas of lowland rain forest.