Rhodomyrtus sericea Burret

Burret, K.E. (1941) Notizblatt des Botanischen Gartens und Museums zu Berlin-Dahlem 15(3): 497. Type: Australien: Queensland, Mt. Bellenden-Ker, 5200 , (W. Sayer in herb. Berol.).

Grey Rhodomyrtus

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Fine stripes usually visible in the blaze.

Leaf blades about 4-9 x 1.4-1.7 cm. Young shoots and younger leaf bearing twigs usually densely clothed in short, pale brown hairs. Midrib depressed on the upper surface. Oil dots numerous, closely spaced.

Inflorescence not exceeding the leaves, but usually longer than the petioles. Calyx lobes about 2-2.5 mm long, appressed pubescent on both the inner and outer surfaces. Petals +/- orbicular, concave, about 4 mm diam., appressed pubescent on the outer surface, but glabrous on the inner surface. Ovary apex pubescent. Stigma peltate, pink.

Infructescence not exceeding the leaves. Calyx lobes persistent at the apex of the fruit. Fruits +/- globular to ellipsoid, about 10-13 x 10-12 mm. Seeds flattened, about 1.5-2 x 1.5 mm. Embryo +/- U-shaped.

Cotyledons ovate, about 3-4.5 x 3 mm, apex truncate except for a reddish glandular mucro. First pair of leaves ovate, apex mucronate, upper and lower surfaces hairy. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade +/- elliptic, apex acuminate, base cuneate. Lower leaf blade surface clothed in hairs, upper surface similar, sometimes reduced to hairs along the midrib. Oil dots sparse, visible with a lens; leaf blade strongly 3-veined; petiole hairy. Stipules small, about 0.5 mm long, linear, gland-like. Seed germination time 26 to 68 days.

Endemic to NEQ and CEQ. Altitudinal range from 650-1550 m. Grows in upland and mountain rain forest usually in windswept rocky areas where good rain forest development is precluded.