Tarenna monticola S.T.Reynolds & P.I.Forst.

Reynolds, S.T. & Forster, P.I. (2005) Austrobaileya 7: 38. Type: Queensland, Mt Lewis Road, 5 Dec. 2002, A. Ford 2002, Holo: BRI; Iso:QRS, K, L, NSW.

Dallachy's Tarenna; Tree Ixora; Tarenna, Dallachy's

Seldom exceeding 30 cm dbh. Blaze odour sometimes obnoxious.

Stipules tapering to a point at the apex. Leaf blades about 10.5-20 x 3.2-9.5 cm. Petiole grooved on the upper surface. Younger leaf bearing twigs shortly hairy and square or rectangular in cross section.

Inflorescence shorter than the leaves. Calyx lobes about 0.5 mm long, outside glabrous, inside villous. Corolla tube about 6-20 mm long, lobes about 3-4 mm long, glabrous throughout. Anthers about 2.5-3 mm long, attached near the top of the corolla tube, filaments much shorter than the anthers. Style about 8-9 mm long, stigma narrowly clavate, about 4-4.5 mm long.

Fruits globular, about 8-10 mm diam., calyx lobes persistent at the apex. Seeds about 2.5-3 x 2 mm. Testa rugose. Embryo about 1.5 mm long. Cotyledons slightly wider than the radicle.

Cotyledons ovate, about 5-9 mm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade ovate, apex acute, base attenuate, upper surface hairy; petiole, stem and terminal bud densely clothed in pale hairs; stipules interpetiolar, triangular, apex acuminate.

Occurs in NEQ. Altitudinal range from near sea level to 800 m. Grows in well developed, lowland and upland rain forest. This species is favoured by disturbance and is a characteristic component of rain forest regrowth.