Wilkiea F.Muell.

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

Distribution

A genus of twelve species from Australia and New Guinea; only one species is recorded from Central Province in Papua New Guinea: Wilkiea foremanii Philipson.

Morphology General Habit

Trees to c. 5 m

Morphology General Indumentum

Indumentum of dense hairs on all parts

Morphology Leaves

Leaves opposite (in New Guinea) or verticillate, margins entire sometimes with 1–2 small denticulate teeth toward the apex. Inflorescences axillary, single or in few flowered cymes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers unisexual, and plants monoecious Staminate flowers globose with an ostiole surrounded by 6 tepals; stamens up to 30, irregularly spaced over the receptacle; stamens without glands, dehiscing by single horizontal or horseshoe-shaped slits

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Pistillate flowers globose with 4 tepals surrounding a small ostiole, thickened glands within the ostiole; carpels numerous (up to 100), sessile on the lower half of the receptacle, style subulate; upper half of the receptacle becoming detached by a circular scar

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits composed of heads of sessile or shortly stipitate drupelets with the irregular rim of the receptacle reflexed below them; individual drupes ovoid, style not persistent.

Ecology

Only known from a few collections from montane areas, primary forests or in regrowth between 2400–2600 m.

Recognition

The genus can be recognised by the coriaceous, opposite leaves, the thick sturdy receptacle with the upper half becoming detached, and the fruits of heads of sessile drupes with the rim of the receptacle reflexed below.