Cecropia peltata L. APNI* Synonyms: Cecropia schiedeana Klotzsch APNI*
Description: Dioecious tree to 15 (-25) m high. branches with internodes hollow.
Stipules 3–10(-12) cm long, pinkish or reddish. Leaves with petiole (10-)20–50 cm long, with trichilia fused on abaxial surface of petiole base (trichilia consists of whitish and brownish hairs); lamina peltate, with (7-)8–10(-11) lobes; lobe 10–60 cm long, distally free, oblong or elliptic, apecies shortly acuminate to rounded.
Male inflorescences erect to deflexed, with peduncle 2–12.5 cm long; male flowers with perianth tubular, 1–1.5 mm long, filaments flat, anthers 0.5–0.6 mm long. Female inflorescences in pairs, erect to pendulous, with peduncle 3–10(-16) cm long; spikes 3–4(-5), 1–4 cm long (up to 9 cm long in fruit); female flowers basally connate, with perianth 1–1.5 mm long; style short; stigma peltate.
Fruits ovoid to ellipsoid, c. 2 mm long, tuberculate, dark brown.
Flowering: Possibly throughout year, know to flower in May–July.
Distribution and occurrence: Introduced to North Coast (NSW) and Queensland. Recorded as an invasive tree in Africa, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Native to southern Mexico to nortyhern South America and also in Jamacia and Trinidad. Currently only know from cultivated plants
NSW subdivisions: *NC
Currently only know from cultivated plants that were introduced to cultivation in the mid 1980s. Appears to readily germinates from seed.
Text by B.J. Conn (2011)
Taxon concept: Berg & Franco-Rosselli (2005)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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