Allowoodsonia Markgr.

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

A monospecific genus with the only species, Allowoodsonia whitmorei Markgr., endemic to the Solomon Islands.

Morphology General Habit

Trees to 12 m

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite, shortly petiolate (5–10 mm), elliptic, chartaceous, glabrous, 15–25 cm long, secondary veins ascending, tertiary veins faint and reticulate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, axis compressed, few-flowered, flowers maturing successively from base to apex, leaving scars after falling

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers on long, slender pedicels (15–20 mm); corolla white, twisted to the left, tube 10–12 mm long, lobes spreading, longer than the tube; anthers sagittate, attached to the style head; ovary superior, apocarpous, 2-carpellate, up to 8 ovules per carpel

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit of paired follicles up to 40 cm long and 2 cm diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds flattened, without a coma.

Ecology

In the Solomon Islands, Allowoodsonia whitmorei has been collected in primary lowland rain forests and beach/coastal forests at sea level to 100 m.

Recognition

Allowoodsonia can be distinguished from Wrightia by its highly compressed inflorescence with adjacent flower scars and the seeds without a coma.