Austrobaileya 1639248 224486911 2008-07-09T01:48:37Z EncycloPetey 474828 update taxobox {{Taxobox | name = ''Austrobaileya'' | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Angiospermae]] | classis = ''see text'' | ordo = [[Austrobaileyales]] | familia = [[Austrobaileyaceae]] | familia_authority = (Croiz.) [[Léon Camille Marius Croizat|Croiz.]] | genus = '''''Austrobaileya''''' | genus_authority = [[Cyril Tenison White|C.T.White]] | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = *''[[Austrobaileya maculata]]'' *''[[Austrobaileya scandens]]'' }} '''''Austrobaileya''''' is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s native to [[Queensland]] state in northeastern [[Australia]], consisting of two [[species]] of [[evergreen]] [[liana]]s, ''A. maculata'' and ''A. scandens''. ''Austrobaileya'' is the sole [[genus]] in [[family (biology)|family]] '''Austrobaileyaceae'''. ''Austrobaileya'' vines are woody and evergreen. Its main stem is loosely twining, with extending straight, leafy branches. The leaves of ''Austrobaileya'' are evergreen, leathery, veined and simple. [[Essential oil]]s in spherical ethereal oil cells within the leaves. ''Austrobaileya'' foliage tends to 'burn' in direct sunlight, so it prefers to stay well beneath the [[rainforest]] [[canopy_(forest)|canopy]] where it enjoys living in low-sunlight, wet and damp areas. ''Austrobaileya'', like many other flowing plants growing in the low-light of tropical rainforest understory, does not have palisade mesophyll tissue or low leaf photosynthetic rates. It relies strongly on vegetative reproduction for continuation of the species. ''A. scandens'' is found only in the [[Daintree Rainforest]] in Queensland, and is rare and endemic to the area. It is the oldest flowering plant in Australia that requires [[pollination]]. ''Austrobaileya'' is one of many primitive plants found in the Daintree that have braved millions of years of climatic change and disasters and have managed to survive into the modern world as a reflection of the prehistoric period. ''A. scandens'' is well adapted to the Daintree, where it can wind around the tall woody trees which form the rainforest canopy. The tropical, damp, humid, and low-light understory of the rainforest where ''A. scandens'' is confined is perfect for its [[photosynthesis]], which is adapted to the low-light conditions of the rainforest. ''A. scandens'' can grow up to 15m (50 ft). The plant has a distinctive blue-green colour foliage. ''Austrobaileya'' flowers are distinctive, arranged in a spiral with pale green petals. ''Austrobaileya'' flowers can be described as large and solitary and are pollinated by [[flies]]. To attract flies, ''A. scandens’'' flowers release a smell like rotting fish. ''A. scandens'' contains [[fruit]], growing from its vines. The fruit is apricot-coloured and contain tightly packed [[seed]]s in the shape of [[chestnut]]s. The fruit is shaped in a similar fashion to that of a [[pear]] or [[eggplant]]. Fruit from ''Austrobaileya'' has been known to grow to sizes of 7 cm in length by 5 cm. ==External links== *[http://www.gu.edu.au/ins/collections/webb/html/6-15.html picture of fruit] *[http://florawww.eeb.uconn.edu/acc_num/200202459.html UCONN Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Conservatory] [[Category:Austrobaileyales]]