Micromyrtus collina is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with small, linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves and small white flowers that turn pink as they age.

Micromyrtus collina

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. collina
Binomial name
Micromyrtus collina

Description

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Micromyrtus collina is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.3–1.5 m (1 ft 0 in – 4 ft 11 in). Its leaves are directed upwards and densely crowded, linear to narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 5.0–8.5 mm (0.20–0.33 in) long and 0.7–1.5 mm (0.028–0.059 in) wide on a petiole 0.7–0.9 mm (0.028–0.035 in) long, with 8 to 12 prominent oil glands. The flowers are 3.0–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) in diameter, and arranged in 2 to 14 upper leaf axils on a peduncle 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) long with narrowly egg-shaped or egg-shaped bracteoles 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long at the base. The sepals are egg-shaped, 0.4–0.6 mm (0.016–0.024 in) long and 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028 in) wide. The petals are white, turning pink as they age, broadly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, and 1.5–2.2 mm (0.059–0.087 in) long. Flowering has been recorded from July to September.[2][3]

Taxonomy

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Micromyrtus collina was first formally described in 2010 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected on the East Moresby Range in 1983.[3][4] The specific epithet (collina) means "inhabiting low hills".[3]

Distribution and habitat

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This species of micromyrtus grows in shrub vegetation on sandy soils over laterite in the Moresby Range in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[3][2]

Conservation status

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Micromyrtus collina is classified as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[2] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Micromyrtus collina". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Micromyrtus collina". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ^ a b c d Rye, Barbara L. (2010). "A revision of the Micromyrtus racemosa complex (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae) of south-western Australia". Nuytsia. 20 (1): 42–45. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Micromyrtus collina". APNI. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 4 October 2023.