Calectasia browneana

Calectasia browneana, commonly known as blue tinsel lily, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a spreading, perennial, tufted herb. It is an uncommon species, endemic and restricted to a few areas in the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to the other species of Calectasia and has only been recognised as a separate species since a review of the genus in 2001. It is distinguished from the others mainly by the hairiness of its leaves and lack of a rhizome.

Calectasia browneana

Priority Two — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Dasypogonaceae
Genus: Calectasia
Species:
C. browneana
Binomial name
Calectasia browneana
Keighery, K.W.Dixon & R.L.Barrett

Description

Calectasia browneana is an undershrub with stilt roots but without a rhizome. It grows to a height of about 60 cm with many very short side branches. Each leaf blade is 8.315.2 x 0.20.4 mm tapering to a short, sharp point on the end and densely covered with fine hairs. The base of the petals (strictly tepals) form a tube 7.28.0 mm long, while the outer parts spread outwards to form a pale blue-pink, papery star-like pattern. In the centre of the star are six yellow stamens forming a tube which turns orange-red with age. The thin style extends beyond the stamens.[1] Flowers appear from June to August.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Calectasia browneana is one of eleven species in the genus Calectasia. It was described as a new species in 2001 by K.W. Dixon and R.L. Barrett from a specimen collected on the Coorow-Greenhead Road.[3] The specific epithet (browneana) refers to the owners of a property where the species is found and "who have endeavoured to conserve high conservation value kwongan vegetation on their land".[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species of blue tinsel lily is uncommon and found in only two, separate areas of the south-west of Western Australia - the Coorow-Eneabba region and near Kalbarri. It grows in white-grey sand over laterite in kwongan vegetation.[1]

Conservation status

Calectasia browneana is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife[2] meaning that is poorly known and from one or a few locations.[4]

References

  1. Barrett, Russell L.; Dixon, Kingsley W. (8 January 2001). "A revision of the genus Calectasia (Calectasiaceae) with eight new species described from south-west Western Australia". Nuytsia. 13 (3): 419–421. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  2. "Calectasia browneana Keighery, K.W.Dixon & R.L.Barrett". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. "Calectasia browneana". APNI. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  4. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.