Tasmannia sp. Mt Bellenden Ker (J.R.Clarkson 6571)

Provisional HISPID phrase name.

Can grow into a small tree but usually flowers and fruits as a shrub about 1-3 m tall.

Leaves clustered towards the ends of the twigs. Leaf blades about 7.5-15 x 2.5-5 cm, petioles absent or very short, about 0.3-0.4 cm long. Lateral veins forming loops well inside the blade margin, sometimes a double series of loops.

Flowers about 11-15 mm diam. Pedicels about 20-30 mm long. Perianth in two whorls of two. Outer perianth segments about 7 x 8 mm. Inner perianth segments about 8 x 3 mm. Stamens about 30-40, filaments about 0.5-1 mm long, anthers yellow, about 1 x 1.2 mm.

Fruits ovoid or ellipsoid, about 12 x 10 mm with a suture line along one side. Seeds numerous, about 20-25 per fruit. Seeds curved and narrowed towards one end, seeds about 4 x 2 mm. Testa thin and brittle. Embryo very small, difficult to find.

Features not available.

Endemic to NEQ, known only from collections made on the summit area of Mt Bellenden Ker. Altitudinal range not known but collections made in the 1500-1600 m range. Grows in windswept mountain rain forest and vine-fern thickets.