Carronia protensa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Carronia protensa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ripening fruit | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Menispermaceae |
| Genus: | Carronia |
| Species: | C. protensa |
| Binomial name | |
| Carronia protensa | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
| |
Carronia protensa is a species of plant in the moonseed family Menispermaceae. It is endemic to Queensland, Australia, and was first described in 1883.
Carronia protensa is a twining vine that may achieve a stem diameter of 8 cm (3 in). The leathery leaves can reach up to 25 cm (10 in) in length and 18 cm (7 in) in width, and are held on petioles (leaf stems) up to 8 cm (3 in) long.[4][5]
Flowers are produced in clusters or panicles, emerging either from the leaf axils, terminally, or from the old wood of the branches. This species is dioecious, meaning that pistillate (functionally female) and staminate (functionally male) flowers are borne on separate plants. They are quite small—male flowers are about 4 mm (0.16 in) diameter while female flowers are about 2 mm (0.08 in) diameter. The fruit is a red, orange or yellow drupe up to 18 mm (0.7 in) long and 15 mm (0.6 in) wide, containing a single seed.[4][5]
Taxonomy
The plant was first described as Husemannia protensa by Australian botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1883, and was transferred to its current combination by German botanist Ludwig Diels in 1910.[2]
Distribution and habitat
It grows in rainforest and gallery forest in northeastern Queensland, from the area near Lockhart River on Cape York Peninsula southwards along the coast to the vicinity of Tully. It also occurs on the subcoastal Atherton Tableland. The altitudinal range is from sea level to about 800 m (2,600 ft).[4][5][6]
Conservation
This species is listed as least concern under the Queensland Government's Nature Conservation Act.[1] As of 26 August 2025[update], it has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Ecology
Carronia protensa, along with other Carronia species, is a host plant for larvae of the pink underwing moth (Phyllodes imperialis).[7][8]
