Melodinus australis
Content
Description
Large woody climber.
Branchlets glabrous.
Leaves:
Inflorescence 1.5-3 cm long, glabrous throughout;
Sepals ovate, 1.6-2.4 by 0.8-1.6 mm, 1.1-2.1 times as long as wide, apex obtuse to rounded, glabrous, ciliate.
Stamens inserted at 1.5-2.5 mm from corolla base which is 0.3 of tube length;
Ovary 1-1.5 mm high;
Fruit ellipsoid, 5-9 by 2.2-4.5 cm, orange or red when mature.
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: New Guinea present, Australasia, Solomon Islands present, Vanuatu present
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Australia; in Malesia: New Guinea.
Taxonomy
The description is for the species as it is found in Malesia, the Australian material often has somewhat smaller flowers. This species differs from M. orientalis in the characters given in the key and, in addition, in the position of the stamens in the corolla tube and in the shape of the fruit.