Leptecophylla oxycedrus

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Leptecophylla oxycedrus
L.oxycedrus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Leptecophylla
Species:
L. oxycedrus
Binomial name
Leptecophylla oxycedrus
(Labill.) Jarman
Oxycedrus distribution.png
Distribution of Leptecophylla oxycedrus

Leptecophylla oxycedrus, commonly referred to as coastal pinkberry [1] [2] or crimson berry, [3] [4] [5] is a medium shrub to large tree [6] native to Tasmania and southern Victoria. [7] It is part of the family Ericaceae and has narrow, pointed leaves, white flowers and pale pink fruits. It was previously classified as a subspecies of Leptecophylla juniperina [8] but has since been raised to the specific level in 2017. [7] The species was originally described in 1805 by Jacques Labillardière in Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen [9] which was published after his voyage through Oceania.

Contents

Photo of Leptecophylla oxycedrus shrub Oxycedrus shrub.jpg
Photo of Leptecophylla oxycedrus shrub

Description and habit

Leptecophylla oxycedrus is typically an erect, densely branched, [4] woody shrub [3] that grows 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft) in height [4] [6] [7] and has puberulent branches. [4] It is a perennial plant [3] that typically flowers from August to November. [4]

Leaves

The leaves of Leptecophylla oxycedrus are narrowly lanceolate and mucronate. [4] They are reflexed with slightly curved, entire margins and are 6–16 mm (0.24–0.63 in) long and 1–1.7 mm (0.039–0.067 in) wide. [4] They have a deep green, glabrous and glossy adaxial surface and a pale green abaxial surface. [4] The abaxial surface has finely branched veins. [7]

Leptecophylla oxycedrus has a single growth period every year when the leaves are produced. [7] Before this season, the leaves are already formed in brown, scarious bracts. [7] Each bract increases in size from the lowest ones to the first leaves that emerge, with the uppermost bracts being approximately the same length as the first leaves. [7]

Flowers

Leptecophylla oxycedrus is a dioecious species and has dimorphic flowers. [7] These flowers differ in that the male flowers have large, pollen-producing anthers [7] which are usually partly exserted from the corolla tube, [4] whereas the female flowers have small, empty anthers. [7]

The flowers have either a terminal or axillary arrangement. [4] The bract and bracteoles are ovate. [4] The sepals are ovate-elliptic and are 1.8–3 mm (0.071–0.118 in) long. [4] The corolla is white but differs in and between populations in regards to the presence of hair. [7] Typically the corolla has sparse hairs on it [7] while the inside is glabrous. [4] The tube is cylindric-urceolate and are 2.2–2.8 mm (0.087–0.110 in) long in female flowers, but 2.6–4.4 mm (0.10–0.17 in) long in male flowers. [4] The lobes are 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long and have acute recurved tips. [4] The ovary contains 5-6 locules and the style is 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long. [4]

Fruit

The fruit in this plant takes form as small spherical berries approximately 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in) in diameter and are pale to deep pink. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Leptecophylla oxycedrus is limited to coastal lowland areas. [6] in wet Eucalypt forests or coastal scrub. [7] It can be found in southern Victoria, the islands in the Bass Strait and in the coastal lowland areas of Tasmania. [10] L. oxycedrus has been found up to 750m on Flinders Island but has only been found at elevations up to 400m on the Tasmanian mainland. [7] L. oxycedrus has only been observed within 10km of the coast. [7] In Victoria, L. oxycedrus is restricted to coastal granite communities at Wilsons Promontory, Corner Inlet and Cape Woolamai. [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Leptecophylla oxycedrus berries Oxycedrus berries.jpg
Leptecophylla oxycedrus berries

The current accepted name is Leptecophylla oxycedrus (Labill.) Jarman. [4] [11] [3] Leptecophylla comes from the Greek lepteces meaning fine-pointed, and phyllum meaning leaf. [8] The species name oxycedrus comes from the Greek oxycedros which means ‘prickly cedar’ (from the Greek oxys meaning sharp, and cedrus meaning cedar). [2]

The correct classification has been heavily debated since its original description in 1805 by Labillardiere in his publication Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen . The basionym for this species, which is outlined in this publication, was Styphelia oxycedrus Labill. [12] [9]

The following list details previous names or synonyms for Leptecophylla oxycedrus: [12]

Leptecophylla oxycedrus flowers Oxycedrus flowers.jpg
Leptecophylla oxycedrus flowers

Similar species

Leptecophylla oxycedrus is visually similar to the two species that it was previously included alongside as subspecies: L. juniperina and L. parvifolia. [8]

Leptecophylla juniperina

L. juniperina is now considered endemic to New Zealand. [4] [7] and so its distribution does not overlap with L. oxycedrus. It also differs in its leaf appearance, with L. juniperina having more linear leaves with longer pungent tips, and the major veins branch towards the lead apex more than L. oxycedrus. [7]

Leptecophylla parvifolia

L. parvifolia, or pink mountain berry, also has a different distribution to L. oxycedrus, as it typically occurs in subalpine areas at elevations of 500-600m but can be found up to 1200m. [6] [7] [13] It typically inhabits rocky slopes of hills and mountains. [13] L. parvifolia is also smaller in height, usually growing to less than 2m. [6] [7] It has smaller flowers, with smaller lobes compared to the tube and the leaves are shorter and narrower than in L. oxycedrus. [7]

Conservation

Leptecophylla oxycedrus has been described as critically endangered in Victoria, [3] [4] but have no risk in other regions. [10]

Uses

The berries produced by this species are edible both raw and cooked. [5]

Related Research Articles

<i>Ozothamnus ferrugineus</i> Species of plant

Ozothamnus ferrugineus, commonly known as tree everlasting, is a member of the genus Ozothamnus, of the Asteraceae family – one of the largest families of flowering plants in Australia. Native to the Australian states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, it forms an erect shrub or small tree between 2 and 3 metres in height.

<i>Olearia ramulosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Olearia ramulosa, commonly known as twiggy daisy-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a shrub with narrowly elliptic, linear or narrowly egg-shaped leaves, and pale blue, mauve or white and yellow, daisy-like inflorescences.

<i>Leptecophylla</i> Genus of flowering plants

Leptecophylla is a genus of flowering plants in the Epacridaceae family, a subfamily of Ericaceae. The genus is native to southeastern Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. Some species in this genus were formerly classified within the genera Cyathodes, Lissanthe, Styphelia and Trochocarpa.

<i>Leptecophylla juniperina</i> Species of fruit and plant

Leptecophylla juniperina is an Australasian species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae.

<i>Eucalyptus amygdalina</i> Species of eucalyptus

Eucalyptus amygdalina, commonly known as black peppermint, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to Tasmania. It is a small to medium-sized tree with rough bark on park of the trunk, smooth grey to brown bark above, lance-shaped to linear adult leaves, oval to club-shaped flower buds, white flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.

<i>Pultenaea juniperina</i> Species of legume

Pultenaea juniperina, commonly known as prickly bush-pea or prickly beauty is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect, spiky shrub with hairy stems, linear to narrow elliptic leaves with stipules at the base, and yellow-orange and red flowers.

<i>Styphelia sieberi</i> Species of shrub

Styphelia sieberi, commonly known as prickly beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect, densely-branched shrub with oblong to more or less egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

<i>Persoonia juniperina</i> Species of flowering plant

Persoonia juniperina, commonly known as prickly geebung, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a small erect to low-lying shrub with smooth bark, hairy new branches, linear leaves, yellow flowers borne singly or in groups of up to forty in leaf axils, and yellowish green to purplish fruit.

<i>Epacris lanuginosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris lanuginosa, commonly known as woolly-style heath, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a slender, erect shrub with hairy branchlets, linear to lance-shaped leaves, and tube-shaped, white flowers crowded along the ends of the branches.

<i>Billardiera fusiformis</i> Species of flowering plant

Billardiera fusiformis, commonly known as Australian bluebell, is a species of flowering plant in the family Pittosporaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a sturdy, shrubby climber that has linear to narrowly elliptic leaves and blue, white or pink, nodding flowers arranged singly or in groups of up to four.

<i>Stenanthera pinifolia</i> Species of shrub

Stenanthera pinifolia, commonly known as pine heath, is a species flowering plant in the family Ericaceae. It is a of shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has narrow, linear leaves, yellow or red tubular flowers and a small edible berry.

<i>Goodenia elongata</i> Species of plant

Goodenia elongata, commonly known as lanky goodenia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect or ascending herb with lance-shaped stem leaves, and yellow flowers arranged singly or in racemes.

<i>Goodenia geniculata</i> Species of plant

Goodenia geniculata, commonly known as bent goodenia or native primrose, is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a low-lying to ascending herb with linear to lance-shaped, often toothed leaves at the base of the plant and racemes of yellow flowers with hairy backs.

<i>Hibbertia acicularis</i> Species of flowering plant

Hibbertia acicularis, commonly known as prickly guinea-flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect or prostrate shrub with linear to lance-shaped leaves and yellow flowers arranged singly in leaf axils with the six to eight stamens joined at the base, in a single cluster.

<i>Leptecophylla parvifolia</i> Tasmanian endemic plant

Leptecophylla parvifolia, commonly known as the mountain pinkberry, is a small to medium sized species of shrub in the family Ericaceae that is endemic to the highlands of Tasmania. This species was first collected and documented in 1804 by Robert Brown and was formerly included in the Cythodes genus. It was then as noted as subspecies of Leptecophylla junipernia but in 2018, was classified as its own species

<i>Epacris myrtifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris myrtifolia is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 15–50 cm (5.9–19.7 in). Its leaves are thick, crowded, egg-shaped with a small, blunt point on the tip, and 4.2–8.5 mm (0.17–0.33 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly in a few upper leaf axils with many leathery bracts at the base. The sepals are leathery, about 4.2 mm (0.17 in) long, the petal tube slightly shorter than the sepals with lobes about the same length, the anthers protruding slightly from the petal tube.

Pimelea cinerea is a species of flowering plant in the family Thymelaeaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a slender shrub with more or less elliptic leaves, and heads of white flowers surrounded by leaves.

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

Leucopogon virgatus, commonly known as common beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect to low-lying shrub with linear to narrowly lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves, and erect clusters of three to seven white, tube-shaped flowers on the ends of branches and in upper leaf axils.

<i>Trochocarpa disticha</i> Species of plant

Trochocarpa disticha is a flowering plant species of the family Ericaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a tall shrub with slender branches, its leaves egg-shaped to narrowly lance-shaped and arranged in two opposite rows (distichous), reddish flowers in curved spikes with bell-shaped petal tubes, and deep to pale purple drupes.

<i>Acrotriche cordata</i> Species of plant

Acrotriche cordata, commonly known as coast ground-berry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to southern Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub, with linear, oblong or egg-shaped leaves, and spikes of tube-shaped, pale green, flowers, and succulent pale green drupes.

References

  1. ↑ The little book of common names for Tasmanian plants. Hans Wapstra, Water, and Environment Tasmania. Department of Primary Industries. Hobart, Tas.: Dept. of Primary Industries, Water and Environment. 2005. ISBN   0-7246-6365-7. OCLC   224460980.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. 1 2 Wapstra, Mark (2010). Tasmanian plant names unravelled. Fullers Bookshop. ISBN   978-0-9804720-2-8. OCLC   681305362.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Species: Leptecophylla oxycedrus (Crimson Berry)". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 "Flora of Victoria". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  5. 1 2 "Crimson Berry". vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Jarman, S.J.; Kantvilas, G. (2017). "Leptecophylla in Tasmania: a reassessment of four species". Swainsona. 31: 1–16. ISSN   2206-1649. JSTOR   26662852.
  8. 1 2 3 Weiller, C. M. (1999). "Leptecophylla, a new genus for species formerly included in Cyathodes (Epacridaceae)". Muelleria: An Australian Journal of Botany. 12 (2): 195–214. doi: 10.5962/p.198397 . ISSN   0077-1813. S2CID   86039469.
  9. 1 2 de La Billardière, Jacques-Julien Houtou (1966). Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen. J. Cramer. OCLC   912072.
  10. 1 2 "Leptecophylla juniperina". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  11. ↑ "Census". flora.tmag.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  12. 1 2 "Leptecophylla oxycedrus (Labill.) Jarman | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  13. 1 2 King, H. J. (1986). Wildflowers of Tasmania. Regal Press. OCLC   819421636.
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