Palmeria scandens, commonly known as the anchor vine or pomegranate vine, is a climbing plant in the family Monimiaceae prevalent in rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales. It may also be present in New Guinea.
Palmeria scandens is an evergreen woody vine with stems up to 20 cm (7.9 in) diameter. It is variable in its morphology and has several forms that are not considered to be distinct enough to warrant placing them into separate taxa.[4]
The simple leaves are elliptic to oblong, 4.5 to 19 cm (1.8 to 7.5 in) long by 4 to 9 cm (1.6 to 3.5 in) wide. They are pubescent, the margins are smooth or very finely toothed, and the petiole measures up to about 10 mm (0.39 in) long.[4][5][6]
The inflorescences are axillary; in male plants they are up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long with flowers about 9 mm (0.35 in) diameter, in female plants they are up to 2 cm (0.79 in) long with 3 mm (0.12 in) diameter flowers. The female receptacle is initially about 3 mm (0.12 in) diameter, enlarging after fertilisation to a somewhat fleshy false fruit containing up to 9 drupes. At maturity the swollen receptacle is about 25 mm (0.98 in) diameter and splits to reveal the contents. It is green outside, pink and hairy inside, with the red drupes (each containing a single seed) attached to the inner surface.[4][5][6]
This species was first described in 1864 by Ferdinand von Mueller, who based his description on material collected by John Dallachy at Rockingham Bay.[2][7] His description was published in his tome Fragmenta phytographiæ Australiæ.
The genus name was given by Mueller to honour the English-born Australian medical practitioner and politician James Frederick Palmer. The species epithet scandens is from Latin and means "climbing".[8]
The anchor vine is widespread in rainforest from Batemans Bay in southeast New South Wales to the McIlwraith Range on Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, at altitudes from near sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft).[4][5][6] There is also a single recorded occurrence of this species in New Guinea.[9]
This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern.[1] As of 30 January 2023, it has not been assessed by the IUCN.
Habit
Leaves
Leaves (underside)
Habit
Palmeria scandens, commonly known as the anchor vine or pomegranate vine, is a climbing plant in the family Monimiaceae prevalent in rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales. It may also be present in New Guinea.
