Ricinocarpos cyanescens

Ricinocarpos cyanescens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Euphorbiaceae
Genus:	Ricinocarpos
Species:	R. cyanescens
Binomial name
Ricinocarpos cyanescens Muell.Arg. [1]

Habit near Tunney

Ricinocarpos cyanescens is a species of flowering plant in the family Euphorbiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a compact, monoecious shrub with narrowly oblong leaves and male and female flowers arranged singly or in small groups.

Description

Ricinocarpos cyanescens is a monoecious shrub that typically grows to height of 1.2–3 m (3 ft 11 in – 9 ft 10 in) with glabrous and more or less glaucous young branchlets. The leaves are glabrous, narrowly oblong, 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) long and 1.0–1.7 mm (0.039–0.067 in) wide on a petiole 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly, or with two to four male flowers, or one female with up to two male flowers. The flowers are conspicuous and arranged on a pedicel densely covered with woolly white, star-shaped hairs. Male flowers are on a thin pedicel 5–16 mm (0.20–0.63 in) long, the sepals covered with woolly, white, star-shaped hairs. Male flowers have narrowly egg-shaped, white petals 6–11 mm (0.24–0.43 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide. Female flowers are usually on a stout pedicel 3–10 mm (0.12–0.39 in) long, the sepals densely hairy, the petals white, 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long and 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) wide. Flowering has been observed in June, July and November, and the fruit is a glabrous capsule 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) long and covered with star-shaped hairs. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy and naming

Ricinocarpos cyanescens was first formally described in 1866 by Johannes Müller Argoviensis in the journal Linnaea: Ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde, from specimens collected in the Swan River Colony by James Drummond. ^{[2] [4]} The specific epithet (cyanescens) means "becoming dark blue", referring to the colour of the leaves on drying. ^[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in sandy soil in open forest and woodland near Metricup, Arthur River, Boscabel, Kojonup, Cranbrook and the Stirling Ranges. ^{[2] [3]}

Conservation status

Ricinocarpos cyanescens is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. ^[3]

References

1. "Ricinocarpos cyanescens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
2. Halford, David A.; Henderson, Rodney J.F. (2007). "A taxonomic revision of Ricinocarpos Desf. (Euphorbiaceae: Ricinocarpeae, Ricinocarpinae)". Austrobaileya. 7 (3): 406–407. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
3. "Ricinocarpos cyanescens". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
4. "Ricinocarpos cyanescens". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
5. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 176. ISBN   9780958034180.