Dictyoneura obtusa (Sapindaceae)

Dictyoneura obtusa DSC_0397
 
Not a well-known denizen of north Queensland’s tropical forests. At least not well-known enough to have a common name.

In fact, the whole genus of perhaps 2-3 species is proabably not too well-known and deserving of study.

This species occurs in lowland forest in Far North Queensland and Cape York. It supposedly also occurs in Papua New Guinea as well, but upon closer examination may turn out to be a different species.

Any taxonomists and biogeographers up to the challenge?

Yet, Dictyoneura works well as an ornamental tree, producing small orange fruits which split open to reveal contrasting black seeds.

The leaflets are smallish, maybe up to around 8-10cm each, and often there is conspicuous teeth towards the tips.

About David Tng

I am David Tng, a hedonistic botanizer who pursues plants with a fervour. I chase the opportunity to delve into various aspects of the study of plants. I have spent untold hours staring at mosses and allied plants, taking picture of pollen, culturing orchids in clean cabinets, counting tree rings, monitoring plant flowering times, etc. I am currently engrossed in the study of plant ecology (a grand excuse to see 'anything I can). Sometimes I think of myself as a shadow taxonomist, a sentimental ecologist, and a spiritual environmentalist - but at the very root of it all, a "plant whisperer"!
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