Stachystemon virgatus is a species of flowering plant in the family Picrodendraceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a compact monoecious shrub with elliptic or narrowly oblong leaves and small yellow flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.
| Stachystemon virgatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Picrodendraceae |
| Genus: | Stachystemon |
| Species: | S. virgatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Stachystemon virgatus | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description
editStachystemon virgatus is a compact, monoecious shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 40 cm (16 in) and has smooth, glabrous branchlets. Its leaves are well-spaced along the stems and branchlets, elliptic or narrowly oblong, 1.9–9.7 mm (0.075–0.382 in) long and 1.3–3.1 mm (0.051–0.122 in) wide on a petiole 0.4–0.8 mm (0.016–0.031 in), with tapering stipules 0.9–1.6 mm (0.035–0.063 in) long at the base. The flowers are arranged singly in upper leaf axils with narrowly triangular, glabrous bracts 0.2–0.4 mm (0.0079–0.0157 in) long and one or two similar, but smaller bracteoles at the base. Male flowers are on a stout pedicel 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) long with usually 4 egg-shaped, yellow tepals, 1.1–1.8 mm (0.043–0.071 in) long and 0.8–1.1 mm (0.031–0.043 in) wide. There are mostly 10 to 14 stamens, the anthers yellow. Female flowers are sessile or on a pedicel up to 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long and usually have 4 narrowly egg-shaped, greenish-yellow tepals 1.0–1.8 mm (0.039–0.071 in) long and 0.3–0.6 mm (0.012–0.024 in) wide. Flowering has been observed from September to November, and the fruit is an elliptical or oval capsule 4.5–6.0 mm (0.18–0.24 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
editThis species was first formall described was first formally described in 1848 by Johann Friedrich Klotzsch, who gave it the name Chrysostemon virgatus in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae near York in 1839.[5][6] In 2003, David Halford and Rodney Henderson transferred the species to the genus Stachystemon as S. virgatus in the journal Austrobaileya.[3][7] The specific epithet (virgatus) means "having long, slender branches".[8]
Distribution and habitat
editStachystemon virgatus along the coast of Western Australia between the Stirling Range and Esperance and between Busselton, Bunbury and near York. It grows in mallee heath, in woodland, heath on sandplain, in rocky crevices and in swampy areas.[2][3][4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Stachystemon virgatus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Stachystemon vinosus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b c Halford, David A.; Henderson, Rodney J.F. (2003). "Studies in Euphorbiaceae A.L.Juss. sens. lat. 5. A revision of Pseudanthus Sieber ex Spreng. and Stachystemon Planch. (Oldfieldioideae Kohler & Webster, Caletieae Mull.Arg.)". Austrobaileya. 6 (3): 526–528. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ a b "Stachystemon virgatus". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Chrysostemon virgatus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Klotzsch, Johann F.; Lehmann, Johann G.C. (1848). Plantae Preissianae. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. pp. 232–233. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ "Stachystemon vinosus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 336. ISBN 9780958034180.