Description
Austrobaileya scandens is a rare species of woody
lianas and belongs to the group of the oldest species of flowering plants found in Australia that required pollination. Too, the fossil record shows that Austrobaileya is one of many ancient basil plants found in wet tropics that have survived millions of years of climatic and geological change.
Interestingly, like many other flowering plants growing in the understory of a rainforest, this species does not have palisade cells (palisade mesphyl tissue, which are responsible for carrying out the majority of the photosynthesis in a leaf.) or low leaf photosynthetic rates. Instead, this species relies strongly on vegetative reproduction for continuation of the species.
This species is well adapted to rain forests, where it can wind around tall woody trees which form the forest canopy. It is well fitted for the wet tropical conditions of rain forest, particularly those conditions of dampness, humidity, and low-light understory beneath the high-light canopy of the much taller trees.
Flowers, Fruit
The Austrobaileya can grow up to 49 feet tall (15 meters) and it has a distinctive blue-green color foliage. This flowering plant has large, solitary flowers that are arranged in a spiral with its pale green petals. The five or so large sepals are yellowish-green, and larger than the five or so green petals. Flowers are pollinated by flies. To attract pollinators, the flowers of A. scandens release a rotting fish smell.
This plants fruit are apricot colored and contain tightly packed seeds, similar in shape to those of a chestnut. The fruit is shaped like a pear and/or eggplant. Fruits have been known to grow to sizes of nearly 3 inches (7 centimetres) in length by 2 inches (5 centimetres) in width.
Habitat:
The Austrobaileya scandens is found in the wet tropics rainforests growing in the understory of much taller trees.
Range:
The Austrobaileya scandens are endemic (found only) in the wet tropic rainforests of Queensland, Australia.
| 
