native gardenia

Larsenaikia ochreata is a tree growing to about 15 (or occasionally 20) m tall. Stipules are up to 12 mm long, initially fused into a tube that encloses the leaf bud—they then split along one side as the bud grows. Leaves are variable in size and shape, but are mostly broadly elliptic and 8–25 cm long by 4–10 cm wide. They are usually arranged in whorls of three on the twigs but may be in opposite pairs, and they have 8–12 lateral veins—which are quite prominent—on either side of the midrib. The inflorescences are terminal and consist of either single flowers, or cymes with 2–4 flowers. They are fragrant and are carried on pedicels up to 12 mm long. The green calyx tube is 5–8 mm long with narrow linear lobes up to 12 mm long. The white corolla tube may be 55 mm long and 3–5 mm diameter, with 5 or 6 lobes (petals) measuring up to 40 mm long and 13 mm wide. The flowers turn yellow as they age. The fruit is a drupe, yellow/green when mature, ovoid to ellipsoid in shape, and up to 50 mm long by 35 mm wide. They are finely hairy on the outside, with the remains of the calyx lobes persisting at the apex. The rind is about 5 mm thick, within which is a cream-coloured placental mass containing numerous seeds about 3–6 mm long.

Larsenaikia ochreata is widespread in eastern Queensland, and has been observed from the tip of Cape York Peninsula southwards to Central Queensland. It grows in open forest and drier rainforest types such as monsoon forest and vine thickets, at altitudes from sea level to about 400 m.

The genus name Larsenaikia is an anagram of Kailarsenia, which in turn was created by Tirvengadum to honour the Danish botanist Kai Larsen. The species epithet ochreata is derived from the Latin ocrea, (sheath), referring to the stipules that fully enclose the leaf buds.