Stemona australiana
Content
Description
Slender glabrous twiner up to 2 m.
Leaves alternate;
Inflorescence sessile, 1-8-flowered, usually one or two flowers in full bloom, bracts parchment-like, c. 2 mm long.
Flowers:
Stamens c. 8 mm long;
Fruit 10-15 by 5-10 mm, with a beak c. 3 mm, 1-6-seeded.
Seeds elongate, rounded at the apex, 6-8 by 2-4 mm, the base surrounded by an aril consisting of hollow, finger-like appendages.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: New Guinea (Irian Jaya present), Australasia: Northern Territory (Northern Territory present), Merauke present, N Queensland present, S coast present
Australia (Northern Territory and N Queensland); in Malesia: Irian Jaya (near Merauke); Papua New Guinea (S coast).
Notes
According to the herbarium material seen, the inflorescences regularly produce fruits.
Superficially S. australiana resembles S. javanica, but the outgrowth of the connectivum separating the thecae in S. australiana is fleshy and of a brain-like structure whereas in S. javanica it is membranous and smooth.
Brass 6039 recorded the species as rare on Daru Island. This also holds true for Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya. Of the seven collections from these areas only one is collected after World War II.
Superficially S. australiana resembles S. javanica, but the outgrowth of the connectivum separating the thecae in S. australiana is fleshy and of a brain-like structure whereas in S. javanica it is membranous and smooth.
Brass 6039 recorded the species as rare on Daru Island. This also holds true for Papua New Guinea and Irian Jaya. Of the seven collections from these areas only one is collected after World War II.