Vitex lignum-vitae

Family

Lamiaceae

Botanical Name

Vitex lignum-vitae A.Cunn. ex Schauer

Schaeur, J.C. in Candolle, A.L.P.P. de (1847) Prodromus 11: 692. Type: In sylvaticis juxta flumen Brisbane-River in sinu Moreton-Bay Novae Hollandiae orient. (A. Cunningh.!).

Synonyms

Premna lignum-vitae (Schauer) Pieper, Botanische Jahrbucher 62 (Beibl. 141): 80(1928), Type: ?.

Common name

Satinwood; Yellow Hollywood; Lignum-vitae

Stem

Stem usually conspicuously fluted or channelled. Dead bark layered. Hard, brittle, longitudinal stripes present in the blaze.

Leaves

Leaf blades about 7.5-11 x 2.5-4.5 cm, petioles about 1-2.5 cm long. Scattered, yellow glands visible with a lens on the underside of the leaf blade. Lateral veins form loops inside the blade margin. Lateral veins depressed on the upper surface, usually forming loops inside the blade margin. Domatia are foveoles with a small orifice.

Flowers

Calyx truncate at the apex, about 2.5-4 mm long, densely glandular and rusty pubescent outside. Outer surface of the corolla clothed in shiny yellow glands. Corolla about 9-15 mm long, tube broad, about 6.5-10 mm long, at least twice as long as the calyx, lobes about 3-4 mm long. Stamens exserted, filaments glabrous, but villous towards the base, about 7-11 mm long. Pollen white or cream. Ovary +/- globose, glabrous, about 1-2 mm diam. Style glabrous, about 9-15 mm long, stigmas two.

Fruit

Fruit obovoid-globose, glabrous, about 5-18 x 5-20 mm.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

Endemic to Australia, occurs in NEQ, south eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales but not in coastal central Queensland. Altitudinal range in NEQ not known but collected at 950-1000 m. Grows in well developed mountain rain forest.