Phymatocarpus maxwellii

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Phymatocarpus maxwellii
Phymatocarpus maxwellii 02.jpg
Phymatocarpus maxwellii growing in Kings Park, Perth
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Phymatocarpus
Species:
P. maxwellii
Binomial name
Phymatocarpus maxwellii
Synonyms

Melaleuca maxwellii (F.Muell.) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Contents

Phymatocarpus maxwellii is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It resembles many small species of Melaleuca, mainly differing in the way its anthers are attached at the top of the stamens. In Phymatocarpus they are attached at their base and open at the other end through two slits. It is a shrub with many small heads of pink to purple flowers, often covering the plant for several weeks in October.

Phymatocarpus maxwellii habit Phymatocarpus maxwellii 01.jpg
Phymatocarpus maxwellii habit

Description

Phymatocarpus maxwellii is an erect to spreading shrub which sometimes grows to a height and width of 2.5 metres (8 ft). The leaves are broad egg-shaped, 4–6 millimetres (0.2–0.2 in) long, often curved and stiff but not prickly. [1] [2] [3]

The flowers are pink to purple and are arranged in dense, roughly spherical heads about 10 millimetres (0.4 in) in diameter on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. There are 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 bundles of stamens. It can be distinguished from the other two species of Phymatocarpus by it lack of a ring of stamens - both the others have the stamens joined in a ring at their bases. [4] Flowering occurs from August to November and is followed by fruits which are woody capsules. The individual capsules are about 2.5 millimetres (0.1 in) in diameter and are arranged in clusters which are rough or lumpy on the outer surface. [1] [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Phymatocarpus maxwellii was first formally described in 1875 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. [3] [5] The specific epithet (maxwellii) honours the botanical collector George Maxwell, the collector of the type specimen. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Phymatocarpus maxwellii occurs in and between the Mount Barker East and the Israelite Bay districts [7] in the Coolgardie, Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions. [8] It grows in a wide range of situations but mostly in sand on sandplains and depressions that are wet in winter. [9]

Conservation

Phymatocarpus maxwellii is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [8]

Related Research Articles

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

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<i>Calothamnus pinifolius</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Melaleuca acuminata</i> Species of plant

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<i>Melaleuca bisulcata</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Melaleuca filifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Melaleuca filifolia, commonly called wiry honey-myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a woody, twiggy shrub with needle-shaped leaves, greenish flower buds, pink "pom-pom" flower heads and spherical clusters of fruits.

<i>Melaleuca glaberrima</i> Species of shrub

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Calothamnus blepharospermus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the west coast of Western Australia. It is an upright, spreading, bushy shrub with red flowers in summer. It grows in sandy soil in scrubby country called kwongan.

<i>Calothamnus longissimus</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Calothamnus oldfieldii</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Eremaea acutifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremaea acutifolia, commonly known as rusty eremaea, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with needle-like leaves and which bears orange-coloured flowers on short side branches and fruits with a surface that is rough to the touch.

<i>Eremaea violacea</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremaea violacea is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is low, spreading shrub with narrow, prickly leaves and which bears violet-coloured flowers on short side branches.

<i>Beaufortia orbifolia</i> Species of flowering plant


Beaufortia orbifolia, commonly known as Ravensthorpe bottlebrush, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub with round, dished leaves crowded on the younger stems, and bright red flower spikes. It is found in laterite hills near Ravensthorpe. It is distinguished from other beaufortias by having green stamen bundles with the free ends red.

<i>Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus</i> Species of flowering plant

Phymatocarpus porphyrocephalus is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It resembles many small species of Melaleuca, mainly differing in the way its anthers are attached at the top of the stamens. In Phymatocarpus they are attached at their base and open at the other end through two slits. It is a shrub with many small heads of pink to purple flowers fading to white, often covering the plant for several weeks in spring.

Verticordia minutiflora is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a bushy shrub with small, crowded, cylindrical leaves and groups of white to pale pink flowers in summer and autumn. As suggested by its botanical name, it has the smallest flowers of any verticordia.

<i>Beaufortia puberula</i> Species of flowering plant

Beaufortia puberula, commonly known as hairy-leaved beaufortia, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a shrub growing to a height of about 2 m (7 ft) with hairy young leaves and heads of hairy, pink or red flowers during most of the year.

References

  1. 1 2 Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of southern Western Australia (3rd ed.). [Kenthurst, N.S.W.]: Rosenberg Pub. p. 132. ISBN   9781877058844 . Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 Archer, William (28 March 2009). "Phymatocarpus maxwellii". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 von Mueller, Ferdinand (1875). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 9. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. pp. 45–46. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  4. "Species of Phymatocarpus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  5. "Phymatocarpus maxwellii". APNI. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  6. "Maxwell, George (1804 - 1880)". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  7. Craven, Lyndley A. (1999). "A New Species of Phymatocarpus (Myrtaceae) from Southwestern Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 12 (2): 133–134. doi:10.5962/p.198393. S2CID   146555312 . Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Phymatocarpus maxwellii". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  9. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 400. ISBN   0646402439.