idiot-fruit
Idiospermum australiense (Diels) S.T.Blake
Idiospermum australiense is a flowering plant species in the Calycanthaceae family and the only species in the genus Idiospermum. It is found in two small areas of tropical rainforest in northeastern Queensland, Australia. The species has the largest seed embryo of any flowering plant and is unique in having more than two cotyledons. It is considered a relic of Gondwana's ancient forests, with features resembling fossil records from 120 million years ago, offering insight into early flowering plant evolution.
Description
Idiospermum australiense, known as idiot-fruit, is a monotypic species in the Calycanthaceae family. It is native to tropical rainforests in northeastern Queensland and is notable for its unusually large seed embryo and more than two cotyledons. This species is a living fossil, representing an ancient lineage that has persisted in isolated refugia for over 120 million years. Its morphology closely matches fossil records from the Gondwana era, making it a key species for understanding the early evolution of flowering plants.
Other common names
idiot-fruitribbonwood
Distribution
Queensland
Synonyms
Calycanthus australiensis
