Androcalva adenothalia explained

Androcalva adenothalia is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with hairy stems, broadly egg-shaped leaves with rounded teeth on the edges, and clusters of 4 to 9 or more white flowers.

Description

Androcalva adenothalia is a prostrate shrub that typically grows up to high and wide, its stems covered with glandular and star-shaped hairs. The leaves are broadly egg-shaped, long and wide on a petiole long with narrowly egg-shaped stipules long at the base. The upper surface of the leaves has deeply impressed veins, the lower surface is densely covered with both glandular and star-shaped hairs, and the edges of the leaves have irregular, rounded teeth. The flowers are arranged in clusters of 4 to 9 or more on a peduncle long, each flower on a pedicel long, with narrowly egg-shaped bracts long at the base. The flowers are pink in the bud stage, later white and in diameter with 5 white, petal-like sepals, the lobes long, and 5 rounded petals, the ligules slightly shorter than the sepals. There is a single staminode, sometimes 3, between each pair of stamens. Flowering occurs from August to October.^{[1] [2]}

Taxonomy

Androcalva adenothalia was first formally described in 2011 by Carolyn Wilkins in Australian Systematic Botany from specimens collected near Canna in 2005.^[3] The specific epithet (adenothalia) means "abundant glands", referring to the glandular hairs on the stems, pedicels and sepals.^[4]

Distribution and habitat

This species was only known from the type location near Canna in the Avon Wheatbelt of south-western Western Australia, where it grew on a disturbed roadside that has since been burnt and cleared by roadworks. The species has been propagated using tissue culture.^[5]

Conservation status

Androcalva adenothalia is listed as "critically endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is in danger of extinction.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Book: Blake . Trevor L. . Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide . 2021 . Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group . Victoria . 9780646839301 . 92–93.
2. Web site: Conservation Advice Androcalva adenothalia . Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water . 4 April 2023.
3. Web site: Androcalva adenothalia. APNI. 4 April 2023.
4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 127–128 . 3rd.
5. Web site: Threatened Species of the Week: Androcalva adenothalia . Northern Agricultural Catchments Council . 5 April 2023.
6. Web site: Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna. Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. 4 April 2023.