| Pandanus grayorum | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Pandanales |
| Family: | Pandanaceae |
| Genus: | Pandanus |
| Species: | P. grayorum |
| Binomial name | |
| Pandanus grayorum | |
Pandanus grayorum is a plant in the family Pandanaceae which is endemic to a very small area of northeast Queensland. It is closely related to both Pandanus gemmifer and Pandanus solms-laubachii , and it coexists with the latter.
Pandanus grayorum is an evergreen tree growing up to 9 m (30 ft) high. Like P. gemmifer the stem is marked with spirally arranged nodules, and there are numerous "pups" or plantlets on the branches. There may be prop or stilt roots up to 50 cm (20 in) high emanating from the lowest portion of the stem. Leaves are about 250 cm (98 in) long, 9 cm (3.5 in) wide at the base and tapering gradually along the full length to a fine point. Small spurs occur along the leaf margins and midrib. [4]
The inflorescence is terminal and pendant, occurring from mid-spring to mid-summer. The fruit is a syncarp measuring up to 40 cm (16 in) long by 22 cm (8.7 in) wide, orange-red in colour, with numerous segments each with 12–18 carpels. Fruit mature over a period of almost 12 months, ripening around the same time as the next season's flowers appear. [4] The tree can also reproduce by means of the "pups", which detach and fall to the ground and can grow into a new plant beneath the parent. [4] [5]
This species was first described in 2020 by Martin Wilhelm Callmander, Sven Buerki, Frank Zich, Ashley R. Field and Timothy Gallaher. Their paper, titled "Pandanus grayorum (Pandanaceae), a new species endemic to north-eastern Queensland (Australia)", was published in June 2021 in the journal Australian Systematic Botany . [5]
The species epithet grayorum was chosen by the authors to honour the Australian botanist Bruce Gray, who spent many years working in North Queensland, [6] on his 80th birthday. [2] [4]
Pandanus grayorum has a very limited distribution, occurring in lowland rainforest and mangrove forest margins in close proximity to the Russell, Mulgrave, Johnstone, Alice, and Moresby rivers in the coastal area between Cairns and Silkwood. [4] [7] It has an extent of occurrence (EEO) of 231 km2 (89 sq mi), with a very small area of occupancy (AOO) of just 28 km2 (11 sq mi). [4]
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern. [1] As of 15 February 2023 [update] , it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
The authors suggest in their paper that the species be given a status of vulnerable, due to the fact that most collections of it are from outside protected areas, and the areas adjacent to occurrences are mostly agricultural which are potentially subject to clearing. [4] [5]
Pandanaceae is a family of flowering plants native to the tropics and subtropics of the Old World, from West Africa to the Pacific. It contains 982 known species in five genera, of which the type genus, Pandanus, is the most important, with species like Pandanus amaryllifolius and karuka being important sources of food. The family likely originated during the Late Cretaceous.
Athertonia is a monotypic genus of plants in the family Proteaceae. The sole described species is Athertonia diversifolia, commonly known as Atherton oak, athertonia, creamy silky oak or white oak. It is endemic to a small part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. A relative of the macadamia, it has potential in horticulture and the bushfood industry.
Sarcotoechia is a genus of tropical rainforest trees, constituting part of the plant family Sapindaceae.
Benstonea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Pandanaceae, native to the Paleotropics.
Elatostema reticulatum, commonly known as rainforest spinach, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae endemic to eastern areas of Queensland and New South Wales. It is a course straggly herb growing to 50–100 cm (20–39 in) high, and may form dense mats on the forest floor. It prefers wet shaded areas in rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, and is often found in and beside streams as well as on wet rock faces. The natural range of the plant is from near Batemans Bay in the south to the ranges and tablelands near Cairns in the north.
Syzygium unipunctatum, commonly known as the rolypoly satinash, is a small tree in the family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to the rainforests of the Wet Tropics of Queensland.
Xanthophyllum octandrum, commonly known as Macintyre's boxwood, false jitta, yellow boxwood or sovereignwood, is a slow-growing tree in the milkwort family Polygalaceae which has the potential to reach thousands of years of age. It is endemic to coastal northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Ormosia ormondii, commonly known as yellow bean, is a tree in the legume family Fabaceae which is endemic to northeastern Queensland, Australia.
Pandanus gemmifer, commonly known as pup pandan, is a plant in the family Pandanaceae that is endemic to northeast Queensland. It is closely related to Pandanus grayorum and Pandanus solms-laubachii.
Pandanus solms-laubachii, commonly known as the swamp pandan, is a small tree in the family Pandanaceae which occurs in northeastern Queensland and possibly in Papua New Guinea. It is closely related to both Pandanus gemmifer and Pandanus grayorum.
Piper fungiforme is a plant in the family Piperaceae endemic to northeast Queensland, Australia.
Pandanus cookii, commonly known as Cook's pandan, Cook's screwpine or simply screwpine, is a tree in the family Pandanaceae which is endemic to coastal and sub-coastal parts of tropical Queensland, Australia. It grows to around 10 m (33 ft) in height with an open habit, long narrow leaves up to 180 by 8 cm and prop roots up to around 30 cm (12 in) long.
Benstonea monticola, commonly known as scrub breadfruit or urchin-fruited pandan, is a plant in the family Pandanaceae which is endemic to rainforested parts of north east Queensland, Australia.
Benstonea lauterbachii, commonly known as Lauterbach's pandan, is a shrub or small tree to 15 m (49 ft) in the family Pandanaceae endemic to Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. It was first described as Pandanus lauterbachii in 1900, but was revised in 2012 by Martin Callmander and Sven Buerki who placed it in the newly created genus Benstonea. In Australia it is found from the tip of Cape York to Iron Range, with an isolated occurrence at the Hull River near Tully.
Freycinetia marginata, commonly known as giant climbing pandan, is a climbing plant in the family Pandanaceae. It is native to New Guinea and Queensland, Australia.
Tetracera daemeliana, commonly known as large-leaved fire vine, is a vine in the guinea flower family Dilleniaceae first described in 1886, which is endemic to the northern half of Queensland, Australia. The flowers are pleasantly perfumed.
Diploglottis obovata, commonly known as blunt-leaved tamarind, is a plant in the family Sapindaceae endemic to central eastern Queensland, Australia. Until 1987 it was considered to be a form of the very closely related Diploglottis diphyllostegia.
Ryparosa kurrangii is a rare plant in the family Achariaceae which is endemic to a very small part of the Queensland tropical rain forests. It is a small tree growing under the rainforest canopy, producing its flowers and fruit on the lower part of the trunk. It was previously considered to be a form of the Ryparosa javanica complex of species.
Gillbeea adenopetala, commonly known as Pink alder, is an evergreen tree in the largely southern hemisphere family Cunoniaceae. It was first described in 1865 and is endemic to a small part of Queensland, Australia.
Debregeasia australis, commonly known as china grass or native ramie, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae endemic to Queensland, Australia.
Data related to Pandanus grayorum at Wikispecies
Media related to Pandanus grayorum at Wikimedia Commons