Rinorea bengalensis (Wall.) Kuntze

Violaceae

Kuntze, C.E.O. (1891) Revisio Generum Plantarum 1: 42.

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Fine, longitudinal stripes in the blaze. Fine ray pattern in the inner blaze. Outer blaze often layered.

Stipules about 4-9 mm long, longitudinally striated, tapering to a point. Stipules produced between the petiole and the twig, the stipular scars completely encircling the twig. Leaf blades about 8-17 x 2.5-9 cm. Lateral veins curved throughout their length but not forming loops. Midrib raised on the upper surface. Domatia are small tufts of hair.

Inflorescence much shorter than the leaves, but usually slightly longer than the petioles. Pedicels about 6-7 mm long. Calyx lobes about 1.5 mm long, petals about 3.5-4 mm long. Stamens inserted near the apex and on the inner surface of a well developed cupular disk in male flowers, staminal filaments short. Ovary in female flowers +/- globular, about 1.5 mm diam. Flowers can appear to be either male or female at different stages in their development but are probably hermaphrodite in each case.

Infructescence much shorter than the leaves, but usually slightly longer than the petioles. Calyx and corolla persistent. Seeds +/- globular, about 3.5 mm diam. Cotyledons +/- orbicular, about 2 mm diam., base somewhat cordate.

Cotyledons about 8.5-9.5 x 10-12 mm, apex emarginate, base truncate or obtuse. Lateral veins forming a cordate pattern with the midrib not extending to the apex of the cotyledon. First pair of leaves elliptic, margins crenate with 3-5 teeth on each side. Midrib raised on the upper surface. Stipules about 2 mm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic-obovate, apex acuminate, base cuneate; midrib raised on the upper surface; lateral veins about 12-14 on each side of the midrib, forming loops inside the blade margin. Stipules hairy, about 5 mm long, enclosing the terminal bud. Seed germination time 24 to 31 days.

Occurs in CYP and NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 500 m. Grows as an understory tree in gallery forest and lowland rain forest. Also occurs in Asia, Malesia and the Pacific islands.

Rinorea bengalensis Kuntze f. bengalensis, Blumea 15: 128(1968). Alsodeia bengalensis Wall., Trans. Med. Phys. Soc. Calc. 7: 224(1835), Type: India, East Bengal, Sillet, H. Bruce hb. Wallich 4896; holo: DD, K. Fide M. Jacobs Blumea 15: 128 (1967). Rinorea australasica C.T.White, Contributions from the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University 4: 73(1933), Type: Daintree River, S. F. Kajewski & C. T. White 1425 (type; flowering and fruiting specimens) 2 Dec. 1929; A, BRI, K, NSW.