Androcalva aphrix

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Androcalva aphrix
Androcalva aphrix Hort.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Androcalva
Species:
A. aphrix
Binomial name
Androcalva aphrix
Synonyms [1]

Rulingia cuneataauct. non Turcz.

Androcalva aphrix is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a dwarf, prostrate, hairy shrub with clusters of 14 or more pink or white flowers.

Contents

Habit in Boorabbin National Park Androcalva aphrix habit.jpg
Habit in Boorabbin National Park

Description

Androcalva aphrix is a dwarf, prostrate shrub that typically grows to 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) high, 30–70 cm (12–28 in) wide, forms suckers, and is densely covered with white, star-shaped hairs. The adult leaves are 4–22 mm (0.16–0.87 in) long and 3–12 mm (0.12–0.47 in) wide on a petiole 2–9 mm (0.079–0.354 in) long with egg-shaped and lobed stipules 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long at the base. Juvenile leaves are often almost twice the size of the adult leaves and are sometimes lobed. Both surfaces of the leaves are densely covered with star-shaped hairs, the upper surface becoming glabrous with age. The flowers are arranged in tight heads of 14 or more on a peduncle up to 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long, with egg-shaped bracts up to 4 mm (0.16 in) long at the base. The flowers are pink or white and 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) in diameter with 5 petal-like sepals and 5 white petals, the ligules about the same length as the sepals. There are 3 staminodes between each pair of stamens, the central one egg-shaped and the other two linear. Flowering occurs from August to January. [2]

Taxonomy

Androcalva aphrix was first formally described in 2011 by Carolyn Wilkins in Australian Systematic Botany from specimens collected from Yellowdine Nature Reserve in 2003. [3] The specific epithet (aphrix) means "without a ripple", referring to the flat leaf margins. [2] [4]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in open shrubland and on sandplains between Kellerberrin, Kalgoorlie and Gibsons Soak north of Esperance, in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia. [2] [5]

Conservation status

Androcalva aphrix is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [5]

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<i>Androcalva procumbens</i> Species of flowering plant

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Androcalva adenothalia is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with hairy stems, broadly egg-shaped leaves with rounded teeth on the edges, and clusters of 4 to 9 or more white flowers.

Androcalva argentea is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a tall shrub that forms suckers from rhizomes and has silvery branchlets and leaves, the leaves egg-shaped with wavy edges and serrated, and dense clusters of 10 to 30 white to cream-coloured flowers.

Androcalva bivillosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate, spreading shrub with clusters of 3 to 9 white to pink flowers.

<i>Androcalva crispa</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva crispa, commonly known as crisped leaf commersonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub that forms suckers from rhizomes and has densely new growth, clusters of lobed, egg-shaped or oblong leaves with wavy, serrated edges, and groups of white and pinkish-purple flowers.

<i>Androcalva fragifolia</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva fragifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a straggling, prostrate shrub with glossy, broadly egg-shaped leaves, and creamy white flowers.

<i>Androcalva gaudichaudii</i> Species of tree

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Androcalva lachna is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the far west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with egg-shaped leaves, and heads of 4 to 12 white and pink flowers.

<i>Androcalva melanopetala</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva melanopetala is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to southern inland Western Australia. It is a sometimes prostrate shrub that has densely hairy new growth, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves with rounded teeth on the edges, and clusters of white or cream-coloured and pink to red flowers.

<i>Androcalva multiloba</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva multiloba is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. It is a dwarf shrub with densely hairy, irregularly serrated, egg-shaped leaves, and up to 5 white and red flowers arranged opposite leaf axils or on the ends of branches.

Androcalva perlaria, commonly known as pearl-like androcalva, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of southern Western Australia. It is a rounded shrub with egg-shaped leaves, the narrower end towards the base, and heads of three to nine white and pinkish flowers.

Androcalva stowardii is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to inland parts of the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate to low-lying shrub with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves, the edges smoothly serrated, and clusters of three to nine or more white to cream-coloured flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Androcalva aphrix". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 94–95. ISBN   9780646839301.
  3. "Androcalva aphrix". APNI. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 135. ISBN   9780958034180.
  5. 1 2 "Androcalva aphrix". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.