Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus

Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It resembles many small species of Melaleuca, mainly differing in the way its anthers are attached at the top of the stamens. In Phymatocarpus they are attached at their base and open at the other end through two slits. It is a shrub with many small heads of pink to purple flowers fading to white, often covering the plant for several weeks in spring.

Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Phymatocarpus
Species:
P. porphyrocephalus
Binomial name
Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus
Synonyms

Melaleuca porphyrocephala (F.Muell.) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Description

Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus is an erect to spreading shrub which sometimes grows to a height and width of 2 metres (7 ft). The leaves are arranged alternately and are 4–6 millimetres (0.16–0.24 in) long. They are broad elliptic to egg-shaped with the narrow end towards the base, sometimes almost circular and have 1 to 3 veins.[1][2][3]

The flowers are pink to purple, fading to white and are arranged in dense, roughly spherical heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. There are leaf-like bracts at the base of flowers and 5 sepals, 5 petals and 46 to 71 stamens. The stamens are joined in a continuous ring around the edge of each flower. Flowering usually occurs from August to December and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules. The capsules are arranged in spherical clusters which are rough or lumpy on the outer surface.[1][2][3][4]

Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus growing at Red Bluff near Kalbarri
Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus leaves and fruits

Taxonomy and naming

Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus was the first Phymatocarpus to be formally described. The description was published in 1862 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[5][6] The specific epithet (porphyrocephalus) is from the Ancient Greek words πορφύρα (porphúra) meaning "purple"[7]: 643  and κεφαλή (kephalḗ) meaning “head”.[7]: 399 

Distribution and habitat

Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus occurs in and between the Murchison River and Eneabba districts[8] in the Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions.[1] It grows in sand over sandstone or limestone on sandplains or in gorges near the coast.[9]

Conservation

Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[1]

References
  1. "Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  2. "Species of Phymatocarpus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  3. Bentham, George (1867). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 3. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 172. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  4. Fagg, Murray. "Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus" (PDF). Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  5. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1862). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 3. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 121. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. "Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus". APNI. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  8. Craven, Lyndley A. (1999). "A New Species of Phymatocarpus (Myrtaceae) from Southwestern Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 12 (2): 133–134. doi:10.5962/p.198393. S2CID 146555312. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  9. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 400. ISBN 0646402439.
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