Androcalva microphylla

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Androcalva microphylla
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Androcalva
Species:
A. microphylla
Binomial name
Androcalva microphylla
Synonyms [1]
  • Commerconia microphyllaF.Muell. orth. var.
  • Commersonia microphyllaBenth.
  • Restiaria microphylla(Benth.) Kuntze

Androcalva microphylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an open, straggling shrub with egg-shaped to oblong leaves with a heart-shaped base, and clusters of 5 to 7 white and dark red flowers.

Contents

Description

Androcalva microphylla is an open, straggling, low-growing shrub that typically grows to 0.8–2 m (2 ft 7 in – 6 ft 7 in) high and 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) wide, its new growth covered with yellowish star-shaped hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped to oblong with a heart-shaped base, 1–8 mm (0.039–0.315 in) long and 1–7 mm (0.039–0.276 in) wide on a petiole 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long with narrow stipules 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long at the base. The edges of the leaves have irregular, rounded lobes, the upper surface with impressed veins, the lower surface covered with white, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are arranged in clusters of 5 to 7 on a peduncle 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long, each flower 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) in diameter, on a pedicel 2–7 mm (0.079–0.276 in) long, with shaggy-hairy bracts at the base. The flowers have 5 white, petal-like sepals with a dark red base, and 5 petals with a round ligule. There are usually 3 tiny staminodes between each pair of stamens. Flowering occurs from August to November, and the fruit is a more or less spherical capsule 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) in diameter. [2]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1863 by George Bentham who gave it the name Commersonia microphylla in Flora Australiensis , from specimens collected by James Drummond near the Murchison River. [3] [4] In 2011, Carolyn Wilkins and Barbara Whitlock transferred the species to Androcalva as A. microphylla in Australian Systematic Botany . [5] The specific epithet (microphylla) means "small leaves". [2]

Distribution and habitat

Androcalva microphylla mostly grows in open shrubland between the Murchison River and Eurardy Station in the Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo bioregions of south-western Western Australia. [2] [6]

Conservation status

Androcalva microphylla is listed as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, [6] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations. [7]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Daviesia microphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Leucopogon leptanthus</i> Species of plant

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

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<i>Commersonia magniflora</i> Species of plant

Commersonia magniflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and endemic to Australia. It is an erect shrub with wrinkled, narrowly oblong to elliptic or egg-shaped leaves, and deep pink flowers.

<i>Commersonia erythrogyna</i> Species of flowering plant

Commersonia erythrogyna, commonly known as Trigwell's rulingia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of the south-west of Western Australia. It is an open, straggly shrub with oblong to egg-shaped leaves and creamy-white flowers.

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

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

Androcalva gaudichaudii is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the far west of Western Australia. It is a low, dense shrub that forms suckers and has broadly oval leaves with a heart-shaped base, and clusters of 2 to 11 white flowers.

Androcalva incilis 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 dark green, narrowly wedge-shaped to narrowly oblong leaves, and crowded heads of 8 to 12 deep pink flowers.

Androcalva inglewoodensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Queensland. It is a spreading, prostrate shrub that has hairy young branchlets, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves with irregularly serrated edges, and small groups of white to cream-coloured flowers.

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

Androcalva johnsonii is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to central Queensland. It is a low, spreading shrub that has hairy young branches, narrowly egg-shaped or oblong leaves with rounded teeth, and small groups of white to pale pink flowers.

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

Androcalva leichhardtii is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to central Queensland. It is a small shrub with hairy new growth, wrinkled, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves with irregular serrations on the edges, and small groups of yellow 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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Androcalva microphylla". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 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. 130–131. ISBN   9780646839301.
  3. ↑ "Commersonia microphylla". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  4. ↑ Bentham, George (1863). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 1. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 244. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  5. ↑ "Androcalva microphylla". APNI. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Androcalva microphylla". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  7. ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
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