Muehlenbeckia Meisn.

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

Distribution

A genus of about 30 species, occurring in New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand and Central and South America. There are four species in New Guinea (at least one endemic).

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs and scramblers to 10 m, herbs and climbers, nodes often swollen

Morphology Leaves Stipules

Stipules fused, sheathing the stem (ocrea), often membranous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, spirally arranged, margins entire, occasionally much reduced and stems photosynthetic. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, lax panicles or racemes, occasionally flowers in sessile clusters. Flowers unisexual and plants monoecious or dioecious, actinomorphic, inconspicuous, 5-merous, often on an articulated pedicel; perianth in a single whorl, free, imbricate, outer 3 lobes slightly larger than inner 2, often accrescent; stamens 8 in male flowers, filaments free, staminodes present in female flowers; ovary superior, 1-locular, often 3-angled, ovule 1, placentation basal, styles 3, stigmas fringed or plumose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit an indehiscent, subglobose to 3-angled nut, often blackish, surrounded by the accrescent, fleshy perianth.

Ecology

In New Guinea, Muehlenbeckia are found in disturbed areas, often with drier and seasonal climates, usually between 1500–3000 m, but also down to sea level.

Recognition

Muehlenbeckia platyclados (F.Muell.) Meisn. is widely planted and may be found in formerly cultivated areas. Muehlenbeckia are shrubs or climbers with ocreas sheathing the stem, unisexual flowers with a single whorl of perianth, 3 styles with fringed stigmas and an indehiscent, dark fruit surrounded by the accrescent perianth.