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The Corroboree
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TrailBlazer

Possible Australian Psychotria.spp

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Heres what I think is a Psychotria.spp discovered treking today in upland rainforest at around 500m elevation.

Sorry for the bad photos, The state of the material was not the best by the time I returned home hey.

It was raining so I left the camera at home but will return soon to take better photo's and more fruits.

Flowers are pure white when not picked.

This plant has a very close resemblance to the Ecuador Psychotria viridis "Amiruca" or what some call the common Psychotria viridis.

The turquoise fruits are throwing me off. Only one fruit at the time and it was a little damaged but shit happens.

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P.V is on the right:
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P.V is on the right:
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Flowers are white when fresh
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Edited by TrailBlazer
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Hey there

I know almost nothing about rainforest spp in the Wet Tropics - so could possibly be talking out of my arse here - apologies if I am. But I am not sure that the photos are of a member of the Family Rubiaceae. Photos might show a stipule - not so clear.. Is this present?

Am wondering if it might be a member of another family??

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I know a local who I'm pretty sure has native psychotria. He certainly has plenty of native tabs and eryth's, and a native anadenanthera.

Will look into it and get him to have a look at your pics.

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Stipule is present on the bottom node if you look closely. I know the shot's and material isn't the best but new photo's will sort that out soon hey.

The color of the fruit is throwing out most of the native ones, Most are white and red.

Its possible I pulled the fruit from the wrong plant in my haste. These things happen sometimes hey!

I am aware and have come across several other native Psychotria.spp in this region before Endorfinder.

Psychotria submontana

Psychotria coelospermum

Psychotria dallachiana

Psychotria loniceroides

Psychotria poliostemma

Psychotria nesophila

Psychotria fitzalanii

To name a few...

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Cool - thanks for the clarification TB.

Good luck getting a positive ID.

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Twin seeds in the pod, possibly with ridges? Do a dissection

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Very tasty looking. Not loniceroides.

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Yea when the rain backs off I will head back and gather better photos and data!

Will update this thread then hey :)

If there is any interest in any of the other native Psychotria.spp I can do a seed collecting trek in the future for some of the other species I mentioned.

Cheers

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Well got off my arse and went for a walk back. This is what I seen. No flower shots they had all fallen off. But the flowers are identical to P.V without the green just all white and a bit larger.

Its a very remote location and might not even be known yet.

Stipule and flower buds emerging.

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It looks really similar to viridis.. Venation, habit, colouration... Wow.

Such incredible diversity in the Wet Tropics that I quickly become overwhelmed

Nice work.

Interested to hear if an ID is forthcoming. I know a coupla really wise fellas down this way who did lotsa work with Bernie Hyland botanising in these landscapes. If no answers emerge I can ask their opinion.

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