Leionema microphyllum

Leionema microphyllum, commonly known as limestone phebalium, is a small shrub with terminal clusters of white-pink flowers in spring. It is a rare plant in Victoria and South Australia.

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

Description

Leionema microphyllum is a small shrub to 40 cm (16 in) high with terete branchlets that are covered with tiny star-shaped hairs or sometimes smooth. The stiff, leathery leaves are egg-shaped to broader egg-shaped, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide with an apex almost heart-shaped or pointed to rounded, occasionally smooth or with minute star-shaped hairs with flat, smooth margins. The inflorescence is a cluster of 1-4 flowers at the end of branches in upper leaf axils. The white to pink petals are narrowly egg-shaped, about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and smooth, stamens almost length of the petals. The pedicels are 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long, fleshy, triangular-shaped lobes are about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long and smooth. The dry fruit are smooth, about 4 mm (0.16 in) high and the surface finely corrugated with a rounded apex. Flowering occurs in spring.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first formally described in 1855 by Ferdinand von Mueller and gave it the name Eriostemon microphyllus.[3] In 1998 Paul G. Wilson changed the name to Leionema microphyllum and the name change was published in the journal Nuytsia.[4][5]The specific epithet (microphyllum) is from the Greek microphyllus, micro- meaning "small" and -phyllus meaning "leaved".[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species has a restricted distribution in Victoria growing in heathland in the Natimuk district, but unknown in the area since 1962, and found near Lake Hindmarsh in 2014. In South Australia it is found in the southern Eyre Peninsula district.[2][7]

References
  1. "Leionema microphyllum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  2. Duretto, Marco. "Leionema microphyllum". VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  3. "Eriostemon microphyllus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  4. "Leionema microphyllum". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  5. Wilson, Paul G. (1998). "New species and nomenclatural changes in Phebalium and related genera (Rutaceae)". Nuytsia. 12 (2): 275.
  6. Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 252. ISBN 9780958034180.
  7. Wilson, Paul G. (1999). Meliaceae Rutaceae Zygophyllaceae (PDF). Canberra/Melbourne: Australian Biological Resources Study-Commonwealth of Australia. p. 441. ISBN 9780643109551.
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