Eriandra P.Royen & Steenis

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

Distribution

A monospecific genus from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands: Eriandra fragrans P.Royen & Steenis.

Morphology General Habit

Trees to 30 m tall

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Nectaries

Extra-floral nectaries absent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate, petiole thickened at the base, oblong to oblanceolate, coriaceous, lamina attenuate into the petiole, apex acute or shortly acuminate, midrib prominent below, venation pinnate, tertiary venation reticulate and finely prominent on both sides

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences axillary, fasciculate, much shorter than the leaves, bracts and bracteoles persistent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers (4–)5-merous; sepals all equal, fused together for half their length and to the base of the petals, falling as a whole with the petals; petals equal, fused for ¾ of their length, free lobes orbicular and recurving at anthesis, margins ciliate; stamens (8–)10, filaments fused into a tube, anthers hairy, dehiscing by slits; disk flat, annular, hairy; ovary 7–8-locular, 1 ovule per locule; style hairy, stigma capitate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a globose, fleshy berry, crowned by the style remnant, 4–5-locular (by abortion)

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds completely covered by a thin aril.

Ecology

In New Guinea, Eriandra is found in lowland primary and secondary rain forest, from sea level to 150 m, rarely up to 600 m.

Recognition

Useful characters for Eriandra are: the lamina narrowing into the petiole, the midrib strongly raised below, the sepals being all equal in size and fused at the base and to the petals, the whole structure falling off after fertilisation, the 7–8-locular ovary that develops into a 4–5-locular fruit (by abortion) and the arillate seeds.