Uvaria topazensis (Jessup) L.L.Zhou, Y.C.F.Zu & R.M.K.Saunders

Zhou, L. Su, Y.C.F., Chalermglin, P. & Saunders, R.M.K. (2010) Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 163: 39.

Grows into a tree-top vine, stem diameters of 3 cm recorded. Fibrous stripes visible in the blaze.

Leaf blades elliptic, about 16-23.5 x 6-7.5 cm, petioles about 0.5-0.8 cm long. Stems, petioles, terminal buds and the underside of the leaf blades densely clothed in simple and stellate rusty hairs. Oil dots more conspicuous on the upper surface of the leaf blade.

Sepals triangular, about 10 mm long, clothed in golden or rusty hairs. Petals 3 + 3, in two whorls. All petals clothed in golden or rusty hairs. Outer petals very thick, about 23-25 mm long. Inner petals about 17-18 mm long. Stamens about 300 per flower, each about 2 mm long, filaments very short. Carpels about 40-50, hairy. Ovules 3(?) per carpel.

Fruiting carpels about 12-17 x 8-10 mm, usually 2-seeded and constricted in the middle. Ripe carpels orange and clothed in brown hairs. Embryo about 1 mm long, consisting of equal portions of cotyledon and radicle. Embryo located near the base of the seed.

Features not available.

Endemic to NEQ. Altitudinal range 600-700 m. Grows in well developed upland rain forest.

Food plant for the larval stages of the Fourbar Swordtail, Green Spotted Triangle and the Pale Green Triangle Butterflies. Sankowsky & Neilsen (2000).

Melodorum topazensis Jessup, Flora of Australia 2: 448 (2007). Type: Queensland, Topaz (cultivated), 26 April 1987, G. Sankowsky 625 & N. Sankowsky. Holo: BRI. Melodorum sp. (Topaz GS 244).