Polypremum procumbens L. APNI* Description: Prostrate herb, arising from a central taproot, with many procumbent to ascending branches.
Leaves opposite, crowded together on branch, linear, slightly scrabid along margin.
Flowers small, with calyx, corolla and androecium 4-merous, sessile in terminal leafy cymes. Calyx persistent, divided almost to base; lobes narrowly ovate. Corolla white, shorter than calyx, campanulate, with a ring of hairs in throat. Stamens included, filaments about as long as anthers. Ovary of 2 locules, semi-inferior; style short, persistent; stigma capitate.
Fruit a laterally compressed capsule, obovoid to ovoid; surface smooth.
Flowering: Flowering not known. Fruiting material collected in June
Distribution and occurrence: Naturalised in the Coolangatta Airport area, North Coast (N.S.W.), which extends into neighbouring Moreton District, Queensland. Natural to northern S. America and SE USA. Recorded from open wet area adjacent to Melaleuca quinquinervia forest, with Utricularia and Drosera in sandy soil.
NSW subdivisions: *NC
Other Australian states: *Qld
This genus has previously been placed in the family Buddlejaceae, Loganiaceae or Rubiaceae. Based on recent molecular data, it is now classified in the Tetrachondraceae, together with Tetrachondra.
Text by B.J. Conn (2006)
Taxon concept: B.J. Conn (2006)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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