Leucopogon microphyllus

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Leucopogon microphyllus
Leucopogon microphyllus (5914942899).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Leucopogon
Species:
L. microphyllus
Binomial name
Leucopogon microphyllus
Leucopogon microphyllusDistA110.png
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms [1]
  • Leucopogon denudatus(Spreng.) Sieber ex DC.
  • Leucopogon fraternusDC.
  • Peroa microphylla Pers. orth. var.
  • Perojoa microphyllaCav.
  • Styphelia denudataSpreng.
  • Styphelia microphylla(Cav.) Spreng.
  • Styphelia microphylla(Cav.) F.Muell. isonym

Leucopogon microphyllus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a bushy or spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, and compact spikes of usually four to nine white, tube-shaped flowers.

Contents

Description

Leucopogon microphyllus is a bushy or spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in), its branchlets with fine, bristly hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped leaves, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, 2.2–7.3 mm (0.087–0.287 in) long and 1.4–2.5 mm (0.055–0.098 in) wide on a petiole up to 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long. The leaves are more or less glabrous, the upper surface convex and the lower surface with more or less parallel veins. The flowers are arranged in erect spikes of mostly four to nine 5–11 mm (0.20–0.43 in) long with bracteoles 1.3–1.8 mm (0.051–0.071 in) long at the base. The sepals are 2.3–2.7 mm (0.091–0.106 in) long, the petals white and joined at the base to form a tube 1.1–1.8 mm (0.043–0.071 in) long with lobes 1.5–2.6 mm (0.059–0.102 in) long and softly-hairy inside. Flowering occurs in most months but mainly from August to October, and the fruit is an oblong drupe 1.2–1.5 mm (0.047–0.059 in) long. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1797 by Antonio José Cavanilles who gave it the name Perojoa microphylla in his Icones et Descriptiones Plantarum. [4] [5] In 1810, Robert Brown transferred the species to Leucopogon as L. microphyllus in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . [6] [7] The specific epithet (microphyllus) means "small-leaved". [8]

In 1868, George Bentham reduced Leucopogon pilibundus A.Cunn. ex DC. to Leucopogon microphyllus var. pilibundus in Flora Australiensis , and the new name, and that of the autonym are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

Distribution and habitat

The autonym (var. microphyllus) grows in heath and forest on ridges and hillsides, and is widespread on the coasts and tablelands of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, extending into south-eastern Queensland. It is found at sea level to altitudes of up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft). [3] [10] The variety pilibundus grows in open forest and woodland on ridges and on rocky creek banks on near-coastal areas and tablelands of New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and north-eastern Victoria, with a disjunct population near Lerderderg Gorge. It grows at altitudes of 800–1,200 m (2,600–3,900 ft). [3] [12] [13]

Related Research Articles

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

Leucopogon is a genus of about 150-160 species of shrubs or small trees in the family Ericaceae, in the section of that family formerly treated as the separate family Epacridaceae. They are native to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, the western Pacific Islands and Malaysia, with the greatest species diversity in the south-west of Western Australia. Plants in this genus have leaves with a few more or less parallel veins, and tube-shaped flowers usually with a white beard inside.

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

Epacris pulchella, commonly known as wallum heath or coral heath is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a slender, erect shrub with egg-shaped, pointed leaves and white or pinkish, tube-shaped flowers.

<i>Leucopogon neurophyllus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon neurophyllus, commonly known as veined beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to Victoria in Australia. It is a dense shrub with many branches, erect, narrowly elliptic leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers that are densely bearded inside.

<i>Leucopogon juniperinus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon juniperinus, 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>Leucopogon pendulus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon pendulus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, straggling shrub with oblong leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers that are bearded inside.

<i>Leucopogon fraseri</i> Species of flowering plant

Leucopogon fraseri is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is native to south-eastern continental Australia and New Zealand, where it is known as Styphelia nesophila, pātōtara, or dwarf mingimingi. It is a prickly, prostrate to trailing or low-growing shrub with egg-shaped leaves, and erect, tube-shaped white flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon gracilis</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon gracilis is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a spindly shrub with wiry branchlets, linear to lance-shaped leaves, and dense spikes of white or pinkish flowers.

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

Leucopogon muticus, commonly known as blunt beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, straggling shrub with egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and small numbers of white, tube-shaped flowers that are densely bearded inside.

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

Leucopogon collinus, commonly known as fringed beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a slender, erect or spreading shrub with narrowly lance-shaped leaves, and white, tube-shaped, bearded flowers.

<i>Styphelia deformis</i> Species of plant

Styphelia deformis is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern coastal Australia. It is a bushy shrub with narrowly egg-shaped leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers.

<i>Leucopogon gelidus</i> Species of flowering plant

Leucopogon gelidus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is native to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a slender, compact shrub with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves, and spikes of drooping, tube-shaped white flowers.

<i>Leucopogon glabellus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon glabellus is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, glabrous shrub with slender branchlets, heart-shaped to lance-shaped leaves, and cylindrical spikes of white flowers.

<i>Leucopogon interruptus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon interruptus is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a spreading, glabrous shrub with oval to oblong leaves crowded at the ends of branches, and many small, white, tube-shaped flowers that are bearded inside.

<i>Leucopogon leptospermoides</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon leptospermoides is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with elliptic to lance-shaped or oblong leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers usually arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon margarodes</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon margarodes is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas of eastern Australia. It is an erect, spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and small numbers of white, tube-shaped flowers usually arranged singly or in pairs in upper leaf axils.

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

Leucopogon pilifer, commonly known as thready beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a low-lying, dwarf, often mat-forming shrub with long branches, oblong to lance-shaped leaves and crowded, white spikes of densely bearded flowers arranged in groups of between 4 and 9.

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

Leucopogon pimeleoides is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with narrowly egg-shaped leaves and spikes of white, bearded flowers.

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

Leucopogon recurvisepalus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect to spreading shrub with linear leaves and erect, white, tube-shaped flowers usually arranged singly or in pairs in leaf axils.

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

Leucopogon rufus, commonly known as spoon-leaf beard-heath or ruddy bearded-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect shrub with erect to spreading, egg-shaped leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged in spikes in two to five leaf axils near the ends of branches.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Leucopogon microphyllus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. Powell, Jocelyn M. "Leucopogon microphyllus". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1995). "Ecology of Sydney Plants 3: families Cabombaceae to Eupomatiaceae". Cunninghamia. 4 (2): 373–374. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  4. "Perojoa microphylla". APNI. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  5. Cavanilles, Antonio J. (1797). Icones et descriptiones plantarum. Vol. 4. p. 29. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  6. "Leucopogon microphyllusa". APNI. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  7. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum. London. p. 543. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  8. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 252. ISBN   9780958034180.
  9. "Leucopogon microphyllus var. microphyllus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  10. 1 2 Powell, Jocelyn M. "Leucopogon microphyllus var. microphyllus". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  11. "Leucopogon microphyllus var. pilibundus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  12. 1 2 Powell, Jocelyn M. "Leucopogon microphyllus var. pilibundus". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  13. 1 2 Powell, Jocelyn M.; Walsh, Neville G.; Brown, Elizabeth A. "Leucopogon microphyllus var. pilibundus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 30 May 2023.