Maireana polypterygia

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Maireana polypterygia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Maireana
Species:
M. polypterygia
Binomial name
Maireana polypterygia
Synonyms [1]

Kochia polypterygiaDiels

Maireana polypterygia, commonly known as many-winged bluebush or Gascoyne bluebush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, and is endemic to the north-west of Western Australia. It is a rounded, usually dioecious shrub with woolly branchlets, almost terete to spoon-shaped leaves, glabrous flowers arranged singly, and a glabrous fruiting perianth with a several papery, imperfectly developed horizontal wings.

Contents

Description

Maireana polypterygia is a rounded, usually dioecious shrub that typically grows to a height of about 70 cm (28 in), its branchlets densely covered with woolly hairs. Its leaves are usually arranged alternately, almost terete to spoon-shaped, 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) long and glabrous. The flowers are arranged singly and glabrous. The fruiting perianth is glabrous with a cup-shaped tube 2.5–4 mm (0.098–0.157 in) high, and several imperfectly developed wings 7–17 mm (0.28–0.67 in) in diameter, and up to four vertical wings. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1904 by Ludwig Diels who gave it the name Kochia polypterygia in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie from specimens collected near the Gascoyne River. [5] [6] In 1975, Paul Wilson transferred the species to Maireana as M. polypterygia in the journal Nuytsia . [3] [7] The specific epithet (polypterygia) means 'many small wings'. [8]

Distribution and habitat

Many-winged bluebush usually grows clay, sandy clay and loam in salt marshes, between Exmouth Gulf and Shark Bay in the Carnarvon and Gascoyne bioregions of north-western Western Australia. [2] [4]

Conservation status

Maireana polypterygia is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Maireana polypterygia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 Wilson, Paul G. "Maireana polypterygia". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 Wilson, Paul G. (1975). "A Taxonomic Revision of the genus Maireana (Chenopodiaceae)". Nuytsia. 2 (1): 38. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Maireana polypterygia". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ↑ "Kochia polypterygia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  6. ↑ Diels, Ludwig (1904). Engler, Adolf (ed.). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse". Botanische Jahrbücher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. 35 (2–3): 183–184. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Maireana polypterygia". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  8. ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 291. ISBN   9780645629538.
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