Spyridium microcephalum

Spyridium microcephalum is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading or erect shrub with linear leaves and heads of woolly-hairy flowers.

Spyridium microcephalum
Near Nyabing
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Spyridium
Species:
S. microcephalum
Binomial name
Spyridium microcephalum
Habit in the Tarin Rock Nature Reserve east of Lake Grace

Description

Spyridium microcephalum is a low, spreading or slender, erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.1–1.5 m (3.9 in – 4 ft 11.1 in), its young branchlets covered with woolly, rust-coloured hairs. The leaves are linear, mostly 4–6.5 mm (0.16–0.26 in) long with the edges rolled under obscuring most of the lower surface. The upper surface of the leaves is glabrous and the lower surface is woolly-hairy. The heads of flowers are about 6.5 mm (0.26 in) wide with 1 or 2 prominent, woolly-hairy floral leaves at the base. The sepals are less than 2 mm (0.079 in) long and glabrous.[2][3]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1858 by Nikolai Turczaninow, who gave it the name Cryptandra microcephala in the Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou.[4][5] In 1863, George Bentham changed the name to Spyridium microcephalum in Flora Australiensis.[2][6] The specific epithet (microcephalum) means "small-headed".[7]

Distribution

Spyridium microcephalum occurs in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Hampton and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia. It is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3]

References

  1. "Spyridium microcephalum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. Bentham, George; von Mueller, Ferdinand (1863). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 1. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 434. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  3. "Spyridium microcephalum". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. "Cryptandra microcephala". APNI. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  5. Turczaninow, Nikolai (1858). "Animadversiones in secundam partem herbarii Turczaninow, nunc Universitatis Caesareae Charkowiensis". Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou. 31 (1): 458. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  6. "Spyridium microcephalum". APNI. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  7. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 252. ISBN 9780958034180.
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