Leionema lachnaeoides

Last updated

Leionema lachnaeoides
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Leionema
Species:
L. lachnaeoides
Binomial name
Leionema lachnaeoides

Leionema lachnaeoides, is a tall shrub with aromatic leaves and yellow flowers from winter to late spring. It is restricted to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

Contents

Description

Leionema lachnaeoides is a tall shrub to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high with white stems covered in fine, smooth, silver star-shaped hairs quickly becoming smooth. The leaves are more or less terete , 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long, 1 mm (0.039 in) wide, arranged alternately along the branches on a flattened petiole, with a slight upward curve and ending in a point. The leaf upper and lower side and edges are smooth, surface leathery, margins rolled under almost obscuring the paler underside. The flowers are borne singly on a short peduncle about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long in upper leaf axils and covered in soft star-shaped hairs. The pedicel is fleshy and about 2 mm (0.079 in) long with 4 tiny bracts at the base. The green calyx lobes are triangular-shaped, about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long and smooth. The spreading, five yellow flower petals are narrowly oval shaped, about 5 mm (0.20 in) long, smooth and dotted with glands. The 5 prominent, yellow stamens only slightly longer than the petals. The dry fruit are rounded with a distinctive 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long beak and the seed is dispersed on maturity in early summer. Flowering occurs between winter and late spring. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

This species was described in 1825 by Allan Cunningham, [6] [7] but the name was changed to Leionema lachnaeoides in 1998 by Paul G. Wilson and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia. [8] [9] The specific epithet (lachnaeoides) is from the Greek lachne- meaning "soft wool" and -oides meaning "resembling" a reference to the hairiness of the species. [5]

Distribution and habitat

Leionema lachnaeoides grows on rocky outcrops, among heath and scrubland west of Katoomba in the Blue Mountain and from Shipley Plateau, Blackheath. [4] [5]

Conservation status

This species is classified as "endangered" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 due to factors including weed invasion, altered drainage and fire regimes. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Leionema elatius</i> Species of flowering plant

Leionema elatius, commonly known as tall phebalium, is a shrub species that is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It has glossy green, variably-shaped leaves and clusters of white-lemon flowers in spring.

<i>Leionema phylicifolium</i> Species of shrub

Leionema phylicifolium, commonly known as alpine phebalium, is a shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a small shrub with green, smooth, leathery leaves and pale yellow flowers in spring.

Nematolepis frondosa, commonly known as leafy nematolepis, is a shrub that is endemic to Victoria, Australia. It is a small, conical shaped shrub with glossy leaves, scaly branchlets and white flowers in winter and spring.

<i>Leionema dentatum</i> Species of shrub

Leionema dentatum, commonly known as toothed phebalium is a species of large shrub or small tree that is endemic to New South Wales, Australia. It has variable leaves, slender branches and clusters of cream-yellow flowers in spring.

<i>Leionema carruthersii</i> Species of shrub

Leionema carruthersii is a small shrub that is endemic to southern New South Wales in Australia. It has mostly greenish-yellow flowers, distinctive stamens and lance to egg-shaped leaves.

<i>Leionema diosmeum</i> Species of shrub

Leionema diosmeum is a shrub species in the family Rutaceae that is endemic to southern New South Wales, Australia. It has an upright habit, stems with fine soft hairs, variable shaped leaves and yellow flowers from late winter to spring.

<i>Leionema ellipticum</i> Species of shrub

Leionema ellipticum is a shrub species that is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is a small shrub with smooth green leaves and creamy-white flowers in spring.

Leionema equestre, commonly known as Kangaroo Island phebalium, is a shrub species that is endemic to South Australia. It is a small spreading shrub with rough, green leaves and whitish-pink flowers from late winter to October.

<i>Leionema gracile</i> Species of shrub

Leionema gracile, commonly known as Mt Greville phebalium, is a shrub species that is endemic to Queensland, Australia. It is a small shrub with spreading leaves, white petals and flowers from autumn to spring.

Leionema hillebrandii, commonly known as Mount Lofty phebalium, is a perennial, woody shrub endemic to South Australia. It has variable shaped leaves and pinkish flowers from late winter to spring.

<i>Leionema microphyllum</i> Species of shrub

Leionema microphyllum, commonly known as limestone phebalium, is a small shrub with terminal clusters of white-pink flowers in spring. It is a rare plant in Victoria and South Australia.

<i>Leionema montanum</i> Species of shrub

Leionema montanum, is a small shrub with terminal clusters of white-pink flowers in upper leaf axils in spring. It is endemic to Tasmania.

Phebalium drummondii is a species of small shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth branchlets covered with silvery scales, broadly elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with silvery scales on the lower side and bright yellow flowers arranged in umbers on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Leionema obtusifolium</i> Species of shrub

Leionema obtusifolium, is a small shrub with yellow-white flowers in terminal clusters at the end of branches. It is endemic to Queensland.

<i>Leionema oldfieldii</i> Species of shrub

Leionema oldfieldii is a small shrub that is endemic to mountainous locations in Tasmania, Australia. It has dark green leaves, compact pale pink to white flowers from November to January.

<i>Leionema ralstonii</i> Species of shrub

Leionema ralstonii, is a small shrub with angular, smooth branchlets and pale green flowers in winter. It is restricted to the south coast of New South Wales.

<i>Leionema rotundifolium</i> Species of shrub

Leionema rotundifolium, is a dense shrub with needle-shaped stems and pale lemon to white terminal flowers. It is found in New South Wales and Queensland.

Leionema sympetalum, commonly known as Rylstone bell, is a shrub with greenish-yellow tubular flowers in small terminal clusters at the end of smooth, angular branches. It has a restricted distribution, grows near Rylstone in New South Wales.

<i>Leionema viridiflorum</i> Species of shrub

Leionema viridiflorum commonly known as green phebalium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae. It is a small shrub with pale yellow-greenish flowers in clusters at the end of branches from winter to early spring. It has a restricted distribution in northern New South Wales.

Nematolepis rhytidophylla, is a dense shrub with angular stems, covered densely in coppery coloured scales, smooth, glossy leaves and white flowers in small clusters in winter and spring. It is endemic to New South Wales.

References

  1. "Leionema lachnaeoides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  2. Weston, P.H; Harden, G.J. "Leionema lachnaeoides". PlantNET-Flora of New South Wales. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Leionema lachnaeoides". Species Profile & Threats Database. Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 Wilson, Paul G. (1999). Flora of Australia-Meliaceae, Rutaceae, Zygophyllaceae (PDF). Canberra/Melbourne: ABRS-Commonwealth of Australia Department of Environment & Heritage. p. 436. ISBN   9780643109551.
  5. 1 2 3 Fairley, Alan (2004). Seldom Seen-Rare Plants of Greater Sydney. Louise Egerton. p. 119. ISBN   1876334991.
  6. "Phebalium lachnaeoides". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  7. "Phebalium lachnaeoides". Nuytsia. 1 (1): 103. 1970. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  8. "Leionema lachnaeoides". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  9. "Leionema lachnaeoides". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 22 May 2020.