Styphelia exarrhena
| Desert styphelia | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Cox Scrub Conservation Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Styphelia |
| Species: | S. exarrhena
|
| Binomial name | |
| Styphelia exarrhena | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Styphelia exarrhena, commonly known as desert styphelia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is an erect shrub with erect or spreading egg-shaped leaves, and cream-coloured, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly or in pairs in upper leaf axils.
Description[edit]
Styphelia exarrhena is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 30–60 cm (12–24 in) and has downy branchlets. Its leaves are erect or spreading, egg-shaped, 3.2–9 mm (0.13–0.35 in) long and 1.4–4.5 mm (0.055–0.177 in) wide. The leaves are usually glabrous and have a small point on the tip. The flowers are arranged singly or in pairs in upper leaf axils and have egg-shaped bracts 0.7–1.2 mm (0.028–0.047 in) long and bracteoles 1.3–2 mm (0.051–0.079 in) long. The sepals are egg-shaped, 2.4–3.2 mm (0.094–0.126 in) long, the petal tube cream-coloured, 3.0–4.3 mm (0.12–0.17 in) long with lobes 3.2–5 mm (0.13–0.20 in) long and bearded. Flowering occurs from April to August and the fruit is a narrowly elliptic drupe about 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy[edit]
This species was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller, who gave it the name Leucopogon exarrhena in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[4][5] In 1867, von Mueller transferred the species to Styphelia as S. exarrhena in a later edition of the Fragmenta, and that name is accepted by Plants of the World Online.[1] Styphelia exarrhena and S. adscendens are characterised by their stamens protruding from the petal tube.[6]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
Desert styphelia grows in mallee scrub, coastal shrublands and heath in sandy soil in the south-east of South Australia including on the Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island, and in the Big Desert area of Victoria.[2][3]
Conservation status[edit]
Styphelia exarrhena is listed as "endangered" under the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.[2][7]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Styphelia exarrhena". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d Albrecht, David E.; stajsic, Val. "Styphelia exarrhena". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ a b "Styphelia exarrhena". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ "Leucopogon exarrhena". APNI. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 178. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ Lang, Peter. "Taming the heaths: re-definition of Styphelia and Leucopogon and the demise of Astroloma". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 24 December 2023.
- ^ "Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Threatened List" (PDF). Victorian State Government. Retrieved 24 December 2023.