Goodenia exigua is a species of flowering plant in the Goodeniaceae family and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a stoloniferous, perennial plant with whorls of spatula-shaped leaves and yellow flowers.

Goodenia exigua
In Stokes National Park

Priority Two — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Goodeniaceae
Genus: Goodenia
Species:
G. exigua
Binomial name
Goodenia exigua
Synonyms[1]
  • Selliera exigua (F.Muell.) Benth.
  • Velleia exigua (F.Muell.) Carolin

Description edit

Goodenia exigua is a glabrous, stoloniferous perennial that typically grows to a height of 10 cm (3.9 in). The leaves are borne on the stems in irregular whorls of spatula-shaped leaves with a yellowish tip. The leaves are up to 10 mm (0.39 in) long and up to 3 mm (0.12 in) wide. The flowers are borne in cymes or are solitary, with linear bracteoles 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long at the base. The upper sepal is D-shaped, about 1 mm (0.039 in) long and the petals are about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, glabrous and yellow with short wings. The capsule is more or less round and contains wingless seeds about 1 mm (0.039 in) in diameter.[2]

Taxonomy edit

Goodenia exigua was first formally described in 1863 by Ferdinand von Mueller in his Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae, from a specimen collected by George Maxwell.[3] The specific epithet (exigua) means "small" or "feeble", referring to the habit of the plant.[4]

Distribution edit

Goodenia exigua is found in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of southern Western Australia.[5]

Conservation status edit

This species of goodenia is classified as "Priority Two" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that it is rare or threatened.[5][6]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Goodenia exiqua". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  2. ^ Carolin, Roger C. "Velleia exigua". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  3. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1863). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 3. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 142. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  4. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 195. ISBN 9780958034180.
  5. ^ a b "Goodenia exigua". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  6. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 11 April 2024.