Eremaea ectadioclada

Eremaea ectadioclada is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with small leaves, and orange-coloured flowers on the ends of the long branches which grew in the previous year.

Eremaea ectadioclada
Eremaea ectadioclada leaves and flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Eremaea
Species:
E. ectadioclada
Binomial name
Eremaea ectadioclada
Synonyms

Melaleuca ectadioclada (Hnatiuk) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Description

Eremaea ectadioclada is a low, spreading shrub growing to a height of 0.7 metres (2 ft). Its younger branches are densely covered with fine hairs. The leaves are 4–10 millimetres (0.2–0.4 in) long, 0.4–2.0 millimetres (0.02–0.08 in) wide, narrow egg-shaped, tapering to a point. There is a single vein, sometimes three veins visible on the lower surface.[1]

The flowers are orange-coloured and occur singly or (rarely) in pairs, on the ends of the longer branches which grew in the previous year. There are 5 sepals which are densely covered with hairs on the outside surface and 5 petals 4–6 millimetres (0.16–0.24 in) long. The stamens, which give the flower its colour, are arranged in 5 bundles, each containing 16 to 36 stamens. Flowering occurs from July to November and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules. The capsules are 6.9–8.0 millimetres (0.27–0.31 in) long, rough and scaly on the outer surface and more or less barrel-shaped or cup-shaped. This species can be distinguished from other eremaeas by its rough, usually star-shaped fruit and narrow leaves.[1]

Eremaea ectadioclada growing 5 km south of Badgingarra
Eremaea ectadioclada fruits

Taxonomy and naming

Eremaea ectadioclada was first formally described in 1993 by Roger Hnatiuk in Nuytsia.[1][2] The specific epithet (ectadioclada) is from the Ancient Greek ektadios meaning "spreading" and klados meaning "branch" in reference to the growth form of this species.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Eremaea ectadioclada is found in near-coastal areas of the Irwin district between Eneabba and Jurien Bay[1] in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region.[3] It grows in sandy soil over laterite on sandplains.[4]

Conservation

Eremaea ectadioclada is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[3]

References
  1. Hnatiuk, Roger J. (1998). "A revision of the genus Eremaea (Myrtaceae)". Nuytsia. 9 (2): 205–207. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  2. "Eremaea ectadioclada". APNI. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  3. "Eremaea ectadioclada". FloraBase. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  4. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 362. ISBN 0646402439.
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