Leaves and Flowers. Copyright CSIRO

 
Fruit, side views, dehiscing, cross section and arillous seed. Copyright W. T. Cooper

 
Cotyledon and 1st leaf stage, hypogeal germination. Copyright CSIRO

 
Scale bar 10mm. Copyright CSIRO

 
10th leaf stage. Copyright CSIRO

 
Cotyledon stage, hypogeal germination. Copyright CSIRO

Sarcotoechia cuneata

Family

Sapindaceae

Botanical Name

Sarcotoechia cuneata Radlk.

Radlkofer, L.A.T. (1879) Sitzungsberichte der Mathematisch-Physikalischen Classe der k. b. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu M~ynchen 9: 525. Type: Queensland, Rockingham Bay, J. Dallachy; lecto: MEL.

Stem

A small tree not exceeding 30 cm dbh. A thin, brown layer normally present beneath the subrhytidome layer before the first section of the outer blaze.

Leaves

Compound leaves usually with two leaflets, each leaflet blade about 3.5-11 x 1-3.2 cm. Lateral veins forming loops just inside the blade margin and midrib raised on the upper surface. Leaflet stalks very short and swollen at their junction with the compound leaf petiole and rhachis.

Flowers

Inflorescence about 5-8.5 cm long, pedicels about 2-3 mm long. Calyx about 2.5-3 mm long, puberulent, lobes ovate-triangular. Petals broadly obovate, usually 2-toothed, clawed, about 1.2-1.5 mm long, densely villous. Stamens usually eight, filaments hairy, about 3 mm long, inserted inside the disk.

Fruit

Fruits very glossy, wax-like, obovoid, about 10-12 mm long, usually one or 2-seeded. Valves villous on the inner surface. Aril annular, confined to the base of the seed. Seeds +/- ovoid or ellipsoid, about 8-10 x 7-8 mm.

Seedlings

First pair of leaves simple and ovate or trifoliolate with elliptic or ovate leaflets or simple and deeply 3-lobed. At the tenth leaf stage: leaf blade elliptic or narrowly elliptic, apex acuminate, base attenuate, glabrous; petiole with a few, pale, prostrate hairs.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to NEQ, occurs from Big Tableland to Ingham. Altitudinal range from 500-1250 m. Grows as an understory tree in well developed upland and mountain rain forest.

NEQ

X

Tree

X

RFK Code

835