Tetramerista Miq.

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

Note

A small genus of c. two to four species.

Morphology General Habit

Trees or shrubs (to 40 m in Borneo). Stipules absent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, spirally arranged, crowded distally at the branch tips, punctate with black glands below, leaf bases decurrent, petioles very short

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, compound racemose with flowers in umbelliform clusters

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers 4-merous, with a pair of bracteoles below the sepals, these persistent; sepals overlapping, with numerous pitted glands on the upper surface; petals overlapping, similar in size to the sepals; filaments applanate, slightly connate at the base; ovary superior, 4–5 locular, 1 ovule per locule

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit berry-like

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 4–5 with copious endosperm.

Recognition

The genus is distinctive in the combination of having spirally arranged leaves with very short petioles that have marginal glands (especially when young), the flowers are 4-merous with the bracteoles and sepals persistent below the fruit. The flowers are recorded as pale green-yellow and the fruit as purple-black in western Malesia.