Brachyloma ciliatum, commonly known as fringed brachyloma or fringed daphne heath,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a low-lying or erect shrub with upwards-pointing, egg-shaped to oblong leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers.

Brachyloma ciliatum
In Cox Scrub Conservation Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Brachyloma
Species:
B. ciliatum
Binomial name
Brachyloma ciliatum
Synonyms[1]
  • Brachyloma ciliatum (R.Br.) Benth. var. ciliatum
  • Brachyloma ciliatum var. intermedium Rodway
  • Lissanthe ciliata R.Br.
  • Styphelia ciliata (R.Br.) F.Muell.

Description edit

Brachyloma ciliatum is a low-lying or erect shrub that typically grows to a height of about 30 cm (12 in) and forms suckers. Its branchlets are softly- or shaggy-hairy. The leaves are directed upwards, egg-shaped to oblong, 4–14 mm (0.16–0.55 in) long and 1.0–3.3 mm (0.039–0.130 in) wide with a small point on the tip. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a peduncle 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long, with egg-shaped bracteoles 1.2–2.0 mm (0.047–0.079 in) long at the base. The sepals are egg-shaped, 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and the petals white, joined to form a cylindrical tube 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long with spreading to curved lobes 1.2–2.5 mm (0.047–0.098 in) long and bearded inside. Flowering occurs from October to January and the fruit is a glabrous, oval to spherical drupe 2.6–3.0 mm (0.10–0.12 in) long.[3]

Taxonomy and naming edit

This species was first formally described 1810 by Robert Brown, who gave it the name Lissanthe ciliata in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[4][5] In 1868, George Bentham changed the name to Brachyloma ciliatum in Flora Australiensis.[6] The specific epithet (ciliatum) means "fringed with fine hairs".[7]

Distribution edit

Brachyloma ciliatum grows in heathland and woodland, in the west of Victoria, and in the north, east and south-east of Tasmania.[2][3][8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Brachyloma ciliatum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Brachyloma ciliatum". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b Albrecht, David E.; Stajsic, Val. "Brachyloma ciliatum". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Lissanthe ciliata". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  5. ^ Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. London. p. 541. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Brachyloma ciliata". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  7. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 163. ISBN 9780958034180.
  8. ^ Jordan, Greg. "Brachyloma ciliatum". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 16 September 2023.