Synaphea nexosa

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

Synaphea nexosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the far south-west of Western Australia. It is a densely tangled shrub with deeply divided leaves, the end lobes triangular, and spikes of yellow flowers, the spikes longer than the leaves.

Description

Synaphea nexosa is a densely tangled shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) with more or less glabrous stems up to 35 cm (14 in) long. Its leaves are deeply divided, 80–200 mm (3.1–7.9 in) long and wide, on a petiole 130–300 mm (5.1–11.8 in) long, with three linear lobes 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) wide. The flowers are borne in spikes 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in) long and longer than the leaves, on a peduncle up to 60 cm (24 in) long, the flowers widely spaced on the spikes. There are more or less glabrous bracts 2 mm (0.079 in) long at the base of the peduncle. The perianth is ascending with a wide opening, the upper tepal 5.5–6.0 mm (0.22–0.24 in) long and 2.2 mm (0.087 in) wide, the lower tepal 4.0 mm (0.16 in) long. The stigma is crescent moon-shaped with prominent horns, 1.4 mm (0.055 in) long, 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide with an ovary covered with silky hairs in the lower half, glabrous above. Flowering occurs in October and November. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy

Synaphea nexosa was first formally described in 1995 by Alex George in the Flora of Australia from specimens he collected near the Scott River in 1993. ^{[2] [4]} The specific epithet (nexosa) means 'much intertwined' or 'complicated', referring to the growth habit of this species. ^[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in winter-wet flats in mixed scrub and is only known from the Scott River plain, east of Augusta in the far south-west of Western Australia. ^{[2] [3]}

Conservation status

Synaphea nexosa is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, ^[3] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations that are potentially at risk. ^[6]

References

1. "Synaphea nexosa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
2. George, Alex S. "Synaphea nexosa". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
3. "Synaphea nexosa". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
4. "Synaphea media". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
5. George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 268. ISBN   9780645629538.
6. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 25 December 2025.