Allocasuarina grampiana explained

Allocasuarina grampiana, commonly known as Grampians sheoak,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to the Grampians National Park in Victoria. It is a dioecious shrub that has branchlets up to long, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of six or seven, the fruiting cones long containing winged seeds (samaras) about long.

Description

Allocasuarina grampiana is a dioecious shrub that typically grows to a height of and has smooth bark. Its branchlets are more or less erect, up to long, the leaves reduced to erect to slightly spreading, scale-like teeth long, arranged in whorls of six or seven around the branchlets. The sections of branchlet between the leaf whorls (the "articles") are long, wide and have a waxy covering. Male flowers are arranged in spikes long, the anthers long. Female cones are cylindrical, on a peduncle long. Mature cones are long and in diameter, the samaras long.[2]

Taxonomy

Allocasuarina grampiana was first formally described in 1989 by Lawrie Johnson in the Flora of Australia from specimens collected by David Eric Symon on the upper slopes of Mount Rosea in 1965.[3] [4] The specific epithet, (grampiana) refers to the Grampians National Park, to where this species is restricted.

Distribution and habitat

Grampians sheoak is restricted to the Grampians National Park, where it grows on sandstone outcrops.

Conservation status

Allocasuarina grampiana is listed as "endangered" under the Victorian Government Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Entwisle . Timothy J. . Stajsic . Val . Allocasuarina grampiana . Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria . 3 June 2023.
  2. Web site: Allocasuarina grampiana . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 3 June 2023.
  3. Web site: Allocasuarina grampiana. APNI. 4 June 2023.
  4. Book: Wilson . Karen L. . Johnson . Lawrence A.S. . George. Alex S.. Flora of Australia . 3 . 1989 . Australian Government Publishing Service . Canberra . 196 . 3 June 2023.