Jedda multicaulis
Jedda is a monotypic plant genus in the Thymelaeaceae family, its only species being J. multicaulis. The species is an upright, evergreen bush indigenous to tropical Australia, discovered in the early 1980s on the Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, in an area of grassy forest land.[4] The full extent of its distribution is unknown. The name Jedda is a toponym from Jedda Creek, which is close to where the type specimen was collected from.[3]
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Genus: | Jedda J.R.Clarkson[2] |
Species: | J. multicaulis |
Binomial name | |
Jedda multicaulis J.R.Clarkson[3] | |
Description
Jedda multicaulis is a multi-stemmed, upright, evergreen bush (1.5–2.5 m tall). Stems, which are smooth, reddish-brown, and cylindrical when young, and woody as they age, arise from a central corm. Glabrous, coriaceous, point-tipped, oval-shaped leaves (2.5–7 mm long × 8–25 mm wide), are arranged oppositely, or nearly oppositely, along the stems. Inflorescences (2–4 mm long) are clusters of usually three, occasionally up to five flowers, set in bracts. Flower base is tubular (7–9 mm long), extending into sepals and white corolla lobes (3.8–5 mm long). Flowers come out in October.[5] Fruits (6–8 cm long × 4–6 cm wide)[5] which are sometimes viviparous[6] and exhibit cryptogeal (i.e. plant burrows under the soil) germination,[4][7] are green leathery berries or achenes.[5]
References
- James L. Reveal (27 September 2000). "Jaborosa through Myxopyrum". Indices Nominum Supragenericorum Plantarum Vascularium. College Park, Maryland: University of Maryland; Norton-Brown Herbarium. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- The genus Jedda was first described and published in Austrobaileya 2(3): 203. 1986. "Name - Jedda J.R.Clarkson". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- Jedda multicaulis was originally described and published in Austrobaileya 2(3): 203. 1986. "Name - Jedda multicaulis J.R.Clarkson". Tropicos. Saint Louis, Missouri: Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
Type-Protologue: Locality: "Queensland, Cook District: between Jedda Creek and the Kennedy River. 15º37'S, 143º57'E. 18 October 1982"
- John Clarkson; Principal Botanist; Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service (14 January 2011). "Threatened Plant Conservation in Cape York Forges Ahead". Mareeba, Queensland, Australia: Australian National Botanic Gardens; Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- "Jedda multicaulis Conservation Advice" (PDF). Australian Government; Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 16 December 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- "Jedda multicaulis". Flora of Australia Online. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
- JR Clarkson; HT Clifford (1987). "Germination of Jedda multicaulis Clarkson, J.R. (Thymelaeaceae). An Example of Cryptogeal Germination in the Australian Flora". Australian Journal of Botany. 35 (6): 715–720. doi:10.1071/BT9870715. Retrieved 13 November 2011.
External links
- Type specimen photo from the Missouri Botanic Garden
- Fruit photo from the Australian National Botanic Gardens
- Distributional map from Australian National Botanic Gardens