| Argophyllum heterodontum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Herbarium specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Argophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Argophyllum |
| Species: | A. heterodontum |
| Binomial name | |
| Argophyllum heterodontum | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Argophyllum heterodontum is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It has an affinity to A. lejourdanii and was described and named in 2018.
Argophyllum heterodontum is a straggly shrub growing to 2–6 m (6 ft 7 in – 19 ft 8 in) tall. New growth is covered in rusty brown hairs, which become creamy white when more than 10 cm (3.9 in) from the tip. The leaves are held on petioles up to 35 mm (1.4 in) long, are simple, alternate and highly discolorous - the upper sides are green and the lower sides are silvery white. They are elliptic to ovate with toothed margins and 6–10 lateral veins either side of the midrib, and they measure up to 14 cm (5.5 in) long by 5.5 cm (2.2 in) wide. [4] [5]
The inflorescences are panicles produced in the leaf axils - they are covered with dense, matted, woolly hairs, and may reach up to 9 cm (3.5 in) long. The small flowers are actinomorphic (i.e. with multiple lines of symmetry) and have both pistils and stamens. They have 5 fused greenish sepals with lobes about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long, and 5 white petals about 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long. The 5 stamens are about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long, as is the style. [4] [5]
The fruit is a capsule about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 5 mm (0.20 in) diameter. [4] [5]
This species was first described, along with a number of other new species in the genus, in 2018 by the Australian botanists Anthony Bean and Paul Forster. Their paper, titled "A taxonomic revision of Argophyllum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (Argophyllaceae) in Australia", was published in the Journal Austrobaileya . The type specimen was collected by Forster in 2003 at Walshs Pyramid, about 20 km (12 mi) south of Cairns. [4] [5]
The genus name Argophyllum is derived from Ancient Greek Árgos meaning white or shining, and phúllon meaning leaf. It refers to the white colouration of the underside of the leaves. [4] The species epithet heterodontum is from héteros meaning different, and odóntos meaning tooth. It refers to the variable size of the teeth on the leaf margin. [2] [4]
A. heterodontum is restricted to a very small area of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, mostly in the area of Walsh's Pyramid, and with a disjunct population around Butchers Creek Falls to the south-west. [4] [5] It inhabits gallery forest and rock outcrops on the margins of rainforest. The Walsh's Pyramid population is on very thin soil derived from granite, while at Butchers Creek they grow on basaltic and metamorphic soils. [4] : 218 The total area of occupancy of this species is just 36 km2 (14 sq mi). [6] [lower-alpha 1]
Whilst this species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern, [1] Bean and Forster recommended in their paper that it should be given the rating of vulnerable, arguing that it may be affected by burning and weed invasion (while most of the population occurs in National Parks, some occurs on freehold land). At the same time, they also accepted that there is no immediate threat to the species. [4] : 219
As of 24 January 2024 [update] , Argophyllum heterodontum has not been assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Argophyllum is a genus in the Argophyllaceae family comprising eighteen species of shrubs and small trees. They feature alternate, simple leaves, often silvery white underneath. They appear in Australia and New Caledonia, where several species are nickel hyperaccumulators.
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Zieria insularis is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and endemic to tropical north-eastern Queensland. It is an open, straggly shrub with wiry or spindly branches, three-part leaves and between one and a few white flowers with four petals and four stamens arranged in the leaf axils. It mostly grows near granite outcrops which are surrounded by forest or rainforest.
Leptospermum pallidum is a species of spreading shrub that is endemic to Queensland. It has thin, firm, rough bark, narrow lance-shaped leaves, white flowers arranged in groups of two or three on side shoots and fruit that remains on the plant until it dies.
Argophyllum curtum is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 2018.
Argophyllum palumense is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 2018.
Argophyllum loxotrichum is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 2018.
Dendrocnide cordifolia, commonly known as the stinging tree, is a plant in the nettle family Urticaceae endemic to the Atherton Tablelands, south west of Cairns, Queensland. Contact with the plant results in a painful sting, however the intensity and duration of the pain from this plant is extreme.
Argophyllum lejourdanii is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a part of north eastern Queensland, Australia. It was described and named in 1863.
Argophyllum ferrugineum is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 2018.
Argophyllum iridescens is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 2018.
Sannantha brachypoda is a species in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to central Queensland in Australia. It is a shrub with egg-shaped leaves, the narrower end towards the base, and groups of 3 white flowers arranged in leaf axils.
Polyosma rhytophloia, commonly known as wrinkled bark polyosma, is a plant in the family Escalloniaceae which is endemic to parts of eastern Queensland, Australia. It was first described in 1926.
Rubus queenslandicus, commonly known as bramble-of-the-cape, rose-leaf bramble, or native raspberry, is a plant in the rose family Rosaceae which is endemic to a small part of northeastern Queensland, Australia, where it is found on the margins of highland forest. Prior to 1997, collections of this plant were identified as either R. rosifolius, R. fraxinifolius or R. muelleri/R. probus.
Micromyrtus delicata is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of northern coastal Queensland. It is a shrub with overlapping, linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and small white flowers arranged singly in leaf axils.
Argophyllum cryptophlebum is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family of the order Asterales, which is endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 1907.
Data related to Argophyllum heterodontum at Wikispecies
Media related to Argophyllum heterodontum at Wikimedia Commons