Synaphea odocoileops

Synaphea odocoileops
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. odocoileops
Binomial name
Synaphea odocoileops A.S.George [1]

Synaphea odocoileops is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted, compact to sprawling shrub with tripartite or pinnatipartite leaves, the end lobes linear, and spikes of openly spaced yellow flowers.

Description

Synaphea odocoileops is a tufted, compact to sprawling shrub that typically grows to a height of 20–59 cm (7.9–23.2 in) with stems up to 20–70 cm (7.9–27.6 in) long and covered with soft hairs. Its leaves are divided, tripartite or pinnatipartite, 60–120 mm (2.4–4.7 in) long and 70–150 mm (2.8–5.9 in) wide, on a petiole 20–90 mm (0.79–3.54 in) long, the end lobes erect, tapering linear, 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide and soon become glabrous. The flowers are borne in spikes 30–130 mm (1.2–5.1 in) long on a peduncle up to 150–300 mm (5.9–11.8 in) long, the flowers widely spaced on the spikes. There are more or less glabrous bracts 1 mm (0.039 in) long at the base of the peduncle. The perianth has a more or less widely opening, the upper tepal 3.5–4.0 mm (0.14–0.16 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide, the lower tepal 2.8 mm (0.11 in) long. The stigma is egg-shaped with prominent lobes, 0.8–1.0 mm (0.031–0.039 in) long, 1.2–1.3 mm (0.047–0.051 in) wide with a sparsely hairy ovary. Flowering occurs from August to October and the fruit is oval with a short beak, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and covered with long, soft hairs. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy

Synaphea odocoileops was first formally described in 1995 by Alex George in the Flora of Australia from specimens he collected near the Elgin railway siding in 1993. ^{[2] [4]} The specific epithet (odocoileops) means 'mule deer-like', alluding to the shape of the leaves. ^[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in swamps and winter-wet areas in sandy clay in kwongan and is only known from near Byford, Serpentine and Elgin in the south-west of Western Australia. ^{[2] [3]}

Conservation status

Synaphea odocoileops 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 odocoileops". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
2. George, Alex S. "Synaphea odocoileops". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
3. "Synaphea odocoileops". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
4. "Synaphea odocoileops". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
5. George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 273. ISBN   9780645629538.
6. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 7 January 2026.