Leionema lachnaeoides

Leionema lachnaeoides, is a tall shrub with aromatic leaves and yellow flowers from winter to late spring. It is restricted to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

Leionema lachnaeoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Leionema
Species:
L. lachnaeoides
Binomial name
Leionema lachnaeoides

Description

Leionema lachnaeoides is a tall shrub to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high with white stems covered in fine, smooth, silver star-shaped hairs quickly becoming smooth. The leaves are more or less terete , 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long, 1 mm (0.039 in) wide, arranged alternately along the branches on a flattened petiole, with a slight upward curve and ending in a point. The leaf upper and lower side and edges are smooth, surface leathery, margins rolled under almost obscuring the paler underside. The flowers are borne singly on a short peduncle about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long in upper leaf axils and covered in soft star-shaped hairs. The pedicel is fleshy and about 2 mm (0.079 in) long with 4 tiny bracts at the base. The green calyx lobes are triangular-shaped, about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long and smooth. The spreading, five yellow flower petals are narrowly oval shaped, about 5 mm (0.20 in) long, smooth and dotted with glands. The 5 prominent, yellow stamens only slightly longer than the petals. The dry fruit are rounded with a distinctive 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long beak and the seed is dispersed on maturity in early summer. Flowering occurs between winter and late spring.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

This species was described in 1825 by Allan Cunningham,[6][7] but the name was changed to Leionema lachnaeoides in 1998 by Paul G. Wilson and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia.[8][9] The specific epithet (lachnaeoides) is from the Greek lachne- meaning "soft wool" and -oides meaning "resembling" a reference to the hairiness of the species.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Leionema lachnaeoides grows on rocky outcrops, among heath and scrubland west of Katoomba in the Blue Mountain and from Shipley Plateau, Blackheath.[4][5]

Conservation status

This species is classified as "endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 due to factors including weed invasion, altered drainage and fire regimes.[3]

References
  1. "Leionema lachnaeoides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  2. Weston, P.H; Harden, G.J. "Leionema lachnaeoides". PlantNET-Flora of New South Wales. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. "Leionema lachnaeoides". Species Profile & Threats Database. Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. Wilson, Paul G. (1999). Flora of Australia-Meliaceae, Rutaceae, Zygophyllaceae (PDF). Canberra/Melbourne: ABRS-Commonwealth of Australia Department of Environment & Heritage. p. 436. ISBN 9780643109551.
  5. Fairley, Alan (2004). Seldom Seen-Rare Plants of Greater Sydney. Louise Egerton. p. 119. ISBN 1876334991.
  6. "Phebalium lachnaeoides". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  7. "Phebalium lachnaeoides". Nuytsia. 1 (1): 103. 1970. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  8. "Leionema lachnaeoides". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  9. "Leionema lachnaeoides". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
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