About Myrsine subsessilis F.Muell.
Myrsine subsessilis F.Muell. is a shrub or small tree that grows to around 5 m (16 ft) tall, with brown or reddish bark. Its leaves are arranged alternately on twigs, and may form closely spaced pseudo-whorls. Leaves are held on reddish petioles 1–4 mm (0.04–0.16 in) long, and the reddish colour of the petiole extends into the leaf midrib. Leaf blades range from elliptic to lanceolate in shape, are slightly asymmetrical, and have around 19 lateral veins on each side of the prominent midrib, which curve upwards toward the leaf margin. Leaves have smooth entire margins, visible red or orange oil dots, and grow up to 17 cm (6.7 in) long by 6 cm (2.4 in) wide. Inflorescences develop on older wood below the leaves, and sometimes in leaf axils; they form fascicles that most often hold up to 9 flowers, and rarely up to 21 flowers. This species is dioecious: functionally female pistillate and functionally male staminate flowers grow on separate individual plants. Flowers are pentamerous, meaning they have five petals, five sepals, and other five-part floral structures. Petals measure around 3 mm (0.12 in) long, and may be pale green, pale cream, pale yellow, pale pink, or pale brown. The fruit is a blue, purple, or black drupe around 8 mm (0.31 in) long and 9 mm (0.35 in) wide, containing a single pale brown seed about 4 mm (0.16 in) long.
This species has two subspecies that form disjunct populations along the east coast of Australia. Subspecies subsessilis is found from the Clarence River (around 29.4° S) north to the Gympie area (around 25.9° S). Subspecies cryptostemon is found from Paluma Range National Park (around 19.1° S) north to Kutini-Payamu National Park, formerly known as Iron Range National Park (around 12.6° S). Across both populations, the species most commonly grows in various types of rainforest, across a wide variety of soil types ranging from sand dunes to basalt. It grows at altitudes from sea level up to around 1,300 m (4,300 ft).
Flowering has been recorded in all months of the year, with the highest flowering activity occurring in the winter months, linked to rain events. Fruiting also occurs year-round, with the highest fruiting activity in autumn and winter.
