Synaphea incurva

Synaphea incurva
Conservation status
Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Synaphea
Species:	S. incurva
Binomial name
Synaphea incurva A.S.George [1]

Synaphea incurva is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a low-lying shrub with hairy stems, lance-shaped or lobed leaves, spikes of moderately crowded yellow flowers and elliptic fruit on a narrow neck.

Description

Synaphea incurva is a low-lying shrub with hairy stems up to 26 cm (10 in) long. The leaves are 70–150 mm (2.8–5.9 in) long, 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) wide on a petiole 35–65 mm (1.4–2.6 in) long and lance-shaped or three-lobed to pinnatipartite. The flowers are yellow and borne in moderately crowded spikes 25–60 mm (0.98–2.36 in) long on a peduncle 50–210 mm (2.0–8.3 in) long. There are spreading, egg-shaped bracts 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long at the base of the peduncles. The perianth opens widely, the upper tepal more or less straight, 6.5–7.5 mm (0.26–0.30 in) long and 2.3–2.5 mm (0.091–0.098 in) wide, the lower tepal 6.0–6.5 mm (0.24–0.26 in) long. The stigma is egg-shaped and notched with curved lobes, 1.3–1.6 mm (0.051–0.063 in) long and 1.0–1.3 mm (0.039–0.051 in) wide. Flowering occurs in September and October and the fruit is elliptic with a narrow neck, 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long and glabrous or sparsely hairy. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy

Synaphea incurva was first formally described in 1995 by Alex George in the Flora of Australia from specimens he collected near Albany airport. ^{[2] [4]} The specific epithet (incurva) means 'bowed' or 'curved inwards', referring to the lobes of the stigma. ^[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Synaphea grows in jarrah-marri woodland or shrubland just west and north-west of Albany in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Warren bioregions of southern Western Australia. ^{[2] [3]}

Conservation status

Synaphea incurva is listed as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions ^[3] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat. ^[6]

References

1. "Synaphea incurva". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
2. George, Alex S. "Synaphea incurva". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
3. "Synaphea incurva". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
4. "Synaphea incurva". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
5. George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. pp. 228–229. ISBN   9780645629538.
6. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 13 November 2025.