Mirbelia balsiformis

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Mirbelia balsiformis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Mirbelia
Species:
M. balsiformis
Binomial name
Mirbelia balsiformis

Mirbelia balsiformis is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the far west of Western Australia. It is an erect to sprawling shrub with leaves reduced to triangular scales, and yellow to orange and red flowers arranged in racemes on the side of the branchlets.

Contents

Description

Mirbelia balsiformis is an erect to sprawling shrub that typically grows to 0.7–1.7 m (2 ft 4 in – 5 ft 7 in) high and 1.0–1.2 m (3 ft 3 in – 3 ft 11 in) wide and has erect, sharply-pointed and longitudinally-ridges branchlets. Its leaves are reduced to triangular scales 1.3–2 mm (0.051–0.079 in) long. The flowers are arranged in racemes, each flower on a pedicel 0.8–3.2 mm (0.031–0.126 in) long with egg-shaped bracts and bracteoles 0.6–1.2 mm (0.024–0.047 in) long. The sepals are 4.5–5.4 mm (0.18–0.21 in) long and joined at the base, the lobes overlapping each other, the lower three 1.5–2.6 mm (0.059–0.102 in) long. The standard petal is kidney-shaped with a notched centre, 6.5–6.8 mm (0.26–0.27 in) long, 7.9–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) wide, and orange to yellow and red. The wings are egg-shaped, 4.8–5.7 mm (0.19–0.22 in) long and red with a yellow tip and a yellow base, the keel 1.6–2.3 mm (0.063–0.091 in) long and coloured like the wings. Flowering occurs from April to September and the fruit is an inflated, boat-shaped pod 7.2–11.7 mm (0.28–0.46 in) long. [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Mirbelia balsiformis was first formally described in 2012 by Ryonen Butcher in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Useless Loop Road near Denham in 1994. [2] [4] The specific epithet (balsiformis) is an allusion to pre-Columbian balsa boats, referring to the shape of the fruit. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This mirbelia grows on sandplains or low sand dunes in the area of Shark Bay to near Kalbarri in the Yalgoo bioregion of far western Western Australia. [2] [3]

Conservation status

This mirbelia is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, [3]

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<i>Daviesia pedunculata</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Daviesia quadrilatera</i> Species of flowering plant

Daviesia quadrilatera, commonly known as buggery bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a robust, erect, glabrous shrub with angular branchlets, vertically flattened, sharply-pointed quadrilateral or triangular phyllodes with a sharp point on the end, and yellow to orange and red flowers.

Sphaerolobium benetectum is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is tuft-forming sub-shrub with erect stems, linear to lance-shaped leaves, and yellow-orange and pink to red flowers.

Mirbelia corallina is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the far west of Western Australia. It is a slender, sprawling sub-shrub with a few narrowly elliptic to narrowly egg-shaped leaves and pink and yellow flowers arranged in racemes near the ends of the branchlets.

Mirbelia ferricola is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to inland parts of the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with leaves reduced to small scales, and red and yellow flowers arranged in racemes at the ends of the branches.

<i>Mirbelia granitica</i> Species of plant

Mirbelia granitica is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub with spiny branches, scattered linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves and yellow and red flowers.

Sphaerolobium pubescens is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a small shrub or subshrub with slender stems, tapering linear leaves and dense racemes of yellow flowers.

<i>Sphaerolobium rostratum</i> Species of flowering plant

Sphaerolobium rostratum is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an erect to sprawling shrub or subshrub with slender stems, tapering linear leaves and loose racemes of pink and cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Mirbelia ramulosa</i> Species of plant

Mirbelia ramulosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, much-branched, spiny, leafless shrub with yellow and red, purple or brown flowers.

Mirbelia stipitata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is a spiny, more or less leafless shrub with yellow and red flowers.

References

  1. "Mirbelia balsiformis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Butcher, Ryonen (2012). "Three new species allied to the 'Mirbelia viminalis group' (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae), from Western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 22 (2): 77–81. Retrieved 19 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mirbelia balsformis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. "Mirbelia balsiformis". APNI. Retrieved 19 June 2022.