Bertya virgata

Bertya virgata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Bertya
Species:	B. virgata
Binomial name
Bertya virgata (Ewart) Halford & R.J.F.Hend. [1]
Occurrence data from the Australasian Virtual Herbarium
Synonyms [1]
Bertya cupressoidea(Grüning) Airy Shaw Bertya dimerostigma var. cupressoideaGrüning Beyeria virgataEwart

Bertya virgata is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dioecious shrub with many branches, sessile, oblong leaves, and sessile flowers borne singly in leaf axils.

Description

Bertya virgata is a dioecious shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) and has many branches, and sticky young shoots. Its leaves are oblong, 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) long and 0.8–1.3 mm (0.031–0.051 in) wide and sessile, or on a petiole up to 0.4 mm (0.016 in) long. The edges of the leaves are strongly rolled under, the upper surface green and glabrous, the lower surface concealed. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

The flowers are borne singly leaf axils and sessile or on a peduncle up to 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long. There are four to eight oblong to linear bracts 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long and 0.3–0.8 mm (0.012–0.031 in) wide. Male flowers have five elliptic sepal lobes 2.7–4.0 mm (0.11–0.16 in) long and 1.0–3.7 mm (0.039–0.146 in) wide and about 26 stamens. Female flowers also have five egg-shaped to elliptic sepal lobes 2.1–2.3 mm (0.083–0.091 in) long and there are no petals. The ovary is oval and glabrous, the style 0.2–0.3 mm (0.0079–0.0118 in) long with three spreading limbs about 1.0 mm (0.039 in) long, each with two lobes 0.6–1.0 mm (0.024–0.039 in) long. Flowering has been observed in May, August and September and the capsules are elliptic, 3.9–4.5 mm (0.15–0.18 in) long and 3.2–3.7 mm (0.13–0.15 in) wide with a light brown, elliptic seed about 3.3 mm (0.13 in) long and 2.5 mm (0.098 in) wide. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1921 by Alfred James Ewart who gave it the name Beyeria virgata in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria from specimens collected "On Sand Hills near Lefroy in Western Australia" by Richard Helms on the Elder Exploring Expedition. ^{[5] [6]} In 2002, David Halford and Rodney John Francis Henderson transferred the species to Bertya as B. virgata in the journal Austrobaileya . ^{[2] [7]} The specific epithet (virgata) means 'virgate', referring to the long, slender but usually stiff twigs of this species. ^[8]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Bertya grows on sand dunes near salt lakes in open mallee, on sand or pebbly sandy clay between Coolgardie and Norseman in the Coolgardie and Mallee bioregions of Western Australia. ^[3]

Conservation status

Bertya virgata is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions ^[4]

References

1. "Bertya virgata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
2. Halford, David A.; Henderson, Rodney John Francis (2002). "Studies in Euphorbiaceae A.L.Juss. sens. lat. 3. A revision of Bertya Planch. (Ricinocarpeae Mull.Arg., Bertyinae Mull.Arg.)". Austrobaileya. 6 (2): 240–241. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
3. Halford, David A.; Moon, Christina D.; Orchard, Anthony E. "Bertya virgata". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
4. "Bertya virgata". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
5. Ewart, Alfred J. (1921). "Contributions to the Flora of Australia, No. 29". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 33: 226–227. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
6. "Beyeria virgata". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
7. "Bertya virgata". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 25 May 2025.
8. Stearn, William T. (1992). Botanical Latin. Portland Oregon: Timber Press. p. 528.