Laurel-leaf hypserpa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Menispermaceae
Genus: Hypserpa
Species:
H. laurina
Binomial name
Hypserpa laurina
Synonyms[3]
  • Cocculus selwynii F.M.Bailey
  • Hypserpa selwynii F.Muell.
  • Limacia selwynii F.M.Bailey
  • Selwynia laurina F.Muell.
  • Hypserpa parvifolia Kaneh. & Hatus.

Hypserpa laurina is a slender twining climber in the plant family Menispermaceae. It is native to New Guinea and north eastern Queensland in Australia.

Description

This species is a small vine with a maximum recorded stem diameter of 10 cm (3.9 in).[4] It has pendulous branches and the leaves are alternate, 3-veined, elliptic, and measure up to 20 by 7.5 cm (7.9 by 3.0 in)[4][5]

Flowers are pale yellow in colour, male flowers measure about 5 mm (0.20 in) diameter, female flowers about 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) diameter.[4]

The fruit is a red globular drupe measuring about 15 by 14 mm (0.6 by 0.6 in)[4][5]

Phenology

Flowering occurs from July to February, fruits ripen from November to April.[5]

Taxonomy

The basionym Selwynia laurina was first described by the German-born Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in his work Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae in 1864.[6] The German botanist Ludwig Diels reviewed the genus and gave this taxon the new combination Hypserpa laurina, which was published in Adolf Engler's work Das Pflanzenreich: Regni vegetabilis conspectus in 1910.[7]

Distribution and habitat

Hypserpa laurina grows in rainforest on the east coast of northern Australia, from Airlie Beach in north Queensland, northwards to Cape York Peninsula and then to New Guinea. It can be found at altitudes from sea level to 1,000 m (3,280 ft).[4][8]

Ecology

Fruits of the laurel-leaf hypserpa are eaten by cassowaries and fruit pigeons.[4]

Conservation

This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern.[1] As of 21 November 2022, it has not been assessed by the IUCN.

References

  1. 1 2 "Species profile—Hypserpa laurina". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  2. ↑ "Hypserpa laurina". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Hypserpa laurina (F.Muell.) Diels". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Hypserpa laurina". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 Forman, L.L., ed. (2020). "Hypserpa laurina". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "Hypserpa laurina". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  7. ↑ "Das Pflanzenreich: regni vegetablilis conspectus Heft 46 (1910)". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  8. ↑ "Search: species: Hypserpa laurina | Occurrence records | The Australasian Virtual Herbarium". Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
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