Meiogyne cylindrocarpa
Meiogyne cylindrocarpa, commonly known as fingersop or native apricot in Australia, is a small tree or shrub in the custard apple family Annonaceae. It is native to Borneo, Java, the Marianas, New Guinea, Northern Territory, Philippines, Queensland, Vanuatu, and Western Australia. In the Chamorro language it is known as "paipai".
| Fingersop | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cairns Botanic Gardens, Jan 2023 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Magnoliales |
| Family: | Annonaceae |
| Genus: | Meiogyne |
| Species: | M. cylindrocarpa |
| Binomial name | |
| Meiogyne cylindrocarpa | |
| Synonyms[4] | |
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Homotypic
Heterotypic
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Description
Meiogyne cylindrocarpa is an evergreen rainforest plant with an open habit. It will grow to 10 m (33 ft) high, and perhaps 20 m (66 ft).[5] The dark green leaves are held on petioles about 1.5 to 3 mm (0.06 to 0.12 in) long, and measure up to 9.6 cm (3.8 in) long by 4.3 cm (1.7 in) wide, with 7 to 13 pairs of secondary veins.[5][6] They are glossy above and glabrescent (minutely hairy) underneath.[5]
The flowers may be solitary or paired,[5] with six fleshy, triangular petals arranged in two whorls of three. The outer petals measure up to 10 mm (0.39 in) long by 7 mm (0.28 in) wide.[5]
The fruit are elongated and cylindrical in shape. They measure up to 3.3 cm (1.3 in) long and 1.6 cm (0.63 in) diameter, and are initially green, becoming orange or red when ripe.[5] They are edible and sweet and have been compared to a sapodilla with a floral flavour.[7]
Propagation
Fingersop is typically propagated by seeds, taking anywhere from two weeks to six months to germinate. Plant seeds about a quarter inch deep in moist, well drained soil, and do not allow to dry out, the embryos are rather small and are encased in a thick seedcoat, so a small amount of mold in the younger stages can be beneficial for faster germination. Seedlings of M. c. subsp. cylindrocarpa tend to be smaller, with a bushier form then M. c. subsp. trichocarpa, which is more erect. Trees bear fruit after five to six years, but when grafted, will produce much sooner and develop a smaller, more compact form.
References
- "Species profile—Meiogyne cylindrocarpa". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI); IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group. (2018). "Meiogyne cylindrocarpa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T136089132A136089134. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T136089132A136089134.en. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- "Meiogyne cylindrocarpa". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- "Meiogyne cylindrocarpa (Burck) Heusden". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- Jessup, L.W.; Kodela, P.G. (2022). Kodela, P.G. (ed.). "Meiogyne cylindrocarpa". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Meiogyne cylindrocarpa". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- "Meiogyne cylindrocarpa (Native Apricot)". Territory Native Plants. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- The Plant List (2013). meiogyne Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; The Plant List (accessed 1 January).
- F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Meiogyne cylindrocarpa". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 20 June 2021.