Styphelia xerophylla is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, compact shrub with egg-shaped to narrowly egg-shaped leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers with hairy lobes.
| Styphelia xerophylla | |
|---|---|
| |
| Near Mogumber | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Styphelia |
| Species: | S. xerophylla
|
| Binomial name | |
| Styphelia xerophylla | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description edit
Styphelia xerophylla is an erect, compact shrub that typically grows up to 60 cm (24 in) high and wide, with hairy branchlets from near the base of the plant. The leaves are narrowly egg-shaped to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) long and 1.6–3.8 mm (0.063–0.150 in) wide, with a sharply pointed tip. The flowers are born singly in leaf axils, with bracts 1.8–2.8 mm (0.071–0.110 in) and bracteoles 3.0–4.2 mm (0.12–0.17 in) long at the base. The sepals are 7.5–9.0 mm (0.30–0.35 in) long and 3.0–4.3 mm (0.12–0.17 in) wide. The petals are white, joined at the base forming a tube 6.0–8.2 mm (0.24–0.32 in) long and with lobes that are shorter than the tube, 4.0–5.2 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and densely hairy.[2]
Taxonomy edit
This species was first formally described in 1839 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle who gave it the name Stomarrhena xerophylla in his Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis from specimens collected near the Swan River Colony by James Drummond.[3][4] In 1867, Ferdinand von Mueller transferred the species to Styphelia as S. xerophylla in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[5] The specific epithet (xerophylla) means "dry-" or "parched-leaved".[6]
Distribution and habitat edit
This species mostly grows in sandy soils in Banksia woodland or heathland in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[7]
Conservation status edit
Styphelia xerophylla is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b "Styphelia xerophylla". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Hislop, Michael C.; Puente-Lelievre, Caroline (2019). "A taxonomic review of the Styphelia xerophylla group (Ericaceae: Epacridoideae: Styphelieae)". Nuytsia. 30: 172–175. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Stomarrhena xerophylla". APNI. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ de Candolle, Augustin P. (1839). Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis. Paris: Sumptibus Sociorum Treuttel et Würtz. p. 738. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
- ^ "Styphelia xerophylla". APNI. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 341. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ a b "Styphelia xerophylla". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.