Hemerocallidaceae (Luzuriagaceae / Philesiaceae)

Geitonoplesium cymosum

SCRAMBLING LILY, GEITONOPLESIUM

Scrambling vine, stems wiry, twining, to c. 8 m long. Tendrils absent. Buds and stems hairless; stipules absent.

Leaves simple, alternate, 2-ranked; lamina resupinate, variable in shape, linear to narrow-lanceolate to oblong-elliptic or ovate, usually 2–10 cm long and 3–35 mm wide, apex acute, base rounded, surfaces hairless, glossy; longitudinally veined  with several distinct longitudinal veins and a prominent midvein raised on lower surface (though appears to be on upper surface due to twisting of petiole), finer veins not obvious; petiole 1–4 mm long, distinct, twisted so that the lower leaf surface appears to be the upper surface.

Inflorescences terminal, cymose panicles, 4–10 cm long, pedicels 4–6 mm long. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, 3-merous; tepals 6 in 2 whorls, 8–12 mm long, white or outer surface of outer tepals mauve, all entire, not fringed; stamens 6, erect around style, as long as styles; ovary of 3 fused carpels.

Fruit fleshy, a berry, ± globose, 1–2 cm diam., black; seeds 3–9, black; aril absent.

Illustration of leaves & fruit

Habitat and Distribution:

In STRf, WTRf, LRf, DRf and VTs; north from Gippsland Lakes Region, Vic., to Daintree River, N Qld; also New Guinea, Pacific Islands and Malesia.

Notes:

Similar to Eustrephus latifolius in distribution and variable leaf shape; however, Geitonoplesium can be readily distinguished by the black fruit, leaves glossy on both surfaces and a prominent midvein (appears raised on upper surface as the lamina resupinate) and the distinct petiole.

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