Glycocystis

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Glycocystis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Scrophulariaceae
Tribe: Myoporeae
Genus: Glycocystis
Chinnock
Species:
G. beckeri
Binomial name
Glycocystis beckeri
Synonyms [1]
  • Disoon beckeri(F.Muell.) F.Muell.
  • Eremophila beckeriF.Muell.
  • Glycocystis beckeriPaczk. & A.R.Chapm. nom. inval.
  • Myoporum beckeri(F.Muell.) F.Muell. ex Benth.

Glycocystis beckeri is the only species of the flowering plant genus Glycocystis in the family Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a shrub, similar to others in the genera Eremophila and Myoporum but is unusual in that it produces very large amounts of sticky, sweet-smelling resin produced by raised glands which cover the entire plant, except for the petals. It has been suggested that the resin traps insects which the plant uses as a source of nitrogen.

Contents

Description

Glycocystis beckeri is a compact, rounded shrub sometimes growing to a height of 3 metres (10 ft) with branches which have many raised glands producing large amounts of sticky, sweet smelling resin. The branches are often black due to the presence of fungus. The leaves are arranged alternately, mostly 12–22 millimetres (0.5–0.9 in) long, 3.5–6.5 millimetres (0.1–0.3 in) wide and lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base. The edges of the leaves are serrated and their surface is covered with large numbers of small, raised resin glands. [2] [3]

The flowers are arranged singly or sometimes in pairs in the axils of leaves on a stalk 2–4 millimetres (0.08–0.2 in) long . There are 5 narrow, pointed sepals which have similar glands to the branches and leaves. There are also 5 petals joined at their bases, forming a bell-shaped tube. The petal tube is white apart from inside the tube and the lower lobe which are white with yellow blotches. The tube is 4–7 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long with lobes of slightly different lengths. There are 4 short stamens which extend slightly beyond the petal tube. Flowering occurs throughout the year, especially after rain and is followed by fruits which are dry and winged when mature. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Glycocystis beckeri was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Eremophila beckeri in Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae from a specimen collected by George Maxwell in rocky hills near the Phillips River. [4] [5] The genus name (Glycocystis) is from the Ancient Greek words γλυκύς (glykýs) meaning "sweet" [6] : 773  and κύστις (kýstis) meaning "a cyst" or "bladder" [6] : 250  referring to the sweet smelling resin produced by the glands on many parts of this species. The specific epithet (beckeri) honours the artist, naturalist and explorer Ludwig Becker. [2]

Distribution and habitat

Glycocystis beckeri occurs near Ravensthorpe in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions. It grows in pebbly clay loam. [2] [7] [8]

Ecology

It has been suggested that the production of large amounts of sweet resin by this plant may be an adaptation to attract and trap insects which may in turn provide the plant with nitrogen in a similar way to that employed by plants in the South African genus Roridula. [3] [9]

Conservation

Glycocystis beckeri is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [7]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Eremophila fraseri</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Eremophila brevifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Eremophila weldii</i> Species of plant

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<i>Eremophila hughesii</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Myoporum cordifolium</i> Species of shrub

Myoporum cordifolium, commonly known as Jerramungup myoporum, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. It is a shrub with thin, stiff branches and tiny, heart-shaped leaves, both covered with wart-like tubercles. Single white flowers with purple spots develop in the leaf axils and are followed by wrinkled green or brown fruits. It is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia

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<i>Eremophila dempsteri</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila dempsteri is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with many upright stems, short, hooked leaves and pinkish-purple to white flowers with distinctive woolly sepals.

<i>Eremophila densifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Eremophila drummondii</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila drummondii, commonly known as Drummond's eremophila, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a variable shrub, usually with sticky branches and leaves, long, thin leaves and mauve or purple flowers in spring.

Eremophila elderi, commonly known as aromatic emu bush, is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. It is endemic to central Australia where it grows near the border between Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is an erect, aromatic shrub with sticky leaves and branches and usually pale coloured to white flowers. Its specific epithet (elderi) honours an early Australian businessman, Thomas Elder.

<i>Eremophila exilifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Eremophila gibsonii</i> Species of plant

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<i>Eremophila gilesii</i> Species of plant

Eremophila gilesii, commonly known Charleville turkey bush, green turkey bush, desert fuchsia and Giles emu bush is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is usually a low, spreading shrub with pinkish-lilac to purple flowers and is widespread in the Northern Territory and all mainland states except Victoria. It is considered a difficult agricultural weed in some parts of Queensland but is often used as a bush medicine by Aboriginal people.

<i>Eremophila ionantha</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila ionantha is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub with many sticky branches, narrow, light green leaves and blue, purple or violet flowers.

<i>Eremophila platycalyx</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila platycalyx is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with its branches and leaves covered with a layer of matted hairs, although the hairs are sometimes obscured by resin. The shape of the leaves is variable, depending on subspecies, the sepals are often brightly coloured and the petals are cream-coloured, sometimes spotted on the outside. Two subspecies have been described but others have been discovered although not as yet formally described.

<i>Eremophila psilocalyx</i> Species of flowering plant

Eremophila psilocalyx is a flowering plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with a broom-like shape, narrow, hooked leaves and white, pink, blue or purple flowers. It is common in the mallee country around Esperance. It was sometimes incorrectly known as Eremophila pachyphylla.

References

  1. 1 2 "Glycocystis beckeri". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Chinnock, R.J. (Bob) (2007). Eremophila and allied genera : a monograph of the plant family Myoporaceae (1st ed.). Dural, NSW: Rosenberg. pp. 169–171. ISBN   9781877058165.
  3. 1 2 3 Archer, William (8 August 2009). "Glycosystis beckeri". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Glycocystis beckeri". APNI. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne. p. 156. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  6. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  7. 1 2 "Glycocystis beckeri (F.Muell.) Chinnock". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  8. ↑ Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 343. ISBN   0646402439.
  9. ↑ Anderson, Bruce (8 February 2005). "Adaptations to Foliar Absorption of Faeces: a Pathway in Plant Carnivory". Annals of Botany. 95 (5): 757–761. doi:10.1093/aob/mci082. PMC   4246731 . PMID   15728666.
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