Micromyrtus chrysodema


Micromyrtus chrysodema is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of inland Western Australia. It is a densely branched shrub with small, narrowly oblong leaves and small white flowers.

Micromyrtus chrysodema

Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Micromyrtus
Species:
M. chrysodema
Binomial name
Micromyrtus chrysodema

Description edit

Micromyrtus chrysodema is a densely branched shrub with narrowly oblong to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, about 1.6 mm (0.063 in) long and 0.6 mm (0.024 in) wide on a petiole 0.2–0.3 mm (0.0079–0.0118 in) long, with four to eight glands on each side of the mid-vein. The flowers are about 3.5–4.0 mm (0.14–0.16 in) in diameter, and arranged in up to four upper leaf axils on a peduncle 1.2–1.6 mm (0.047–0.063 in) long with narrowly egg-shaped bracteoles about 1.3 mm (0.051 in) long at the base. The sepals are egg-shaped, about 0.35 mm (0.014 in) long and the petals are white, round to egg-shaped and about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. There are five stamens, the filaments about 0.4 mm (0.016 in) long.[2]

Taxonomy edit

Micromyrtus chrysodema was first formally described in 2006 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Leinster in 2004.[3] The specific epithet (chrysodema) means "gold district", referring to the distribution of this species in the Western Australian Goldfields.[2]

Distribution and habitat edit

This species of micromyrtus grows in scrubland with mulga and Triodia in the Leinster district of the Murchison bioregion of inland Western Australia.[2][4]

Conservation status edit

Micromyrtus chrysodema is classified as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife[4] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations that are potentially at risk.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Micromyrtus chrysodema". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Rye, Barbara L. (2006). "A partial revision of the south-western Australian species of Micromyrtus (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 16 (1): 127–128. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Micromyrtus chrysodema". APNI. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Micromyrtus chrysodema". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 30 August 2023.