Brachyloma Explained

Brachyloma is a genus of about 16 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus Brachyloma are shrubs with more or less erect leaves and bisexual flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils, the 5 petals fused to form a cylindrical or bell-shaped tube, the stamens sometimes enclosed in the petal tube.

Description

Plant in the genus Brachyloma are erect or spreading shrubs with simple, sessile or shortly petiolate leaves with more or less parallel or spreading veins on the lower surface. The flowers are bisexual and usually arranged singly in leaf axils, each flower with a bract at the base and bracteoles grading to the size of the 5 sepals. The 5 petals are fused at the base to form a cylindrical to bulbous, bell-shaped tube with erect to curved-back lobes. The fruit is a drupe with a hard endocarp.[1] [2] [3]

Taxonomy

The genus Brachyloma was first formally described in 1845 by Otto Wilhelm Sonder in Lehmnn's Plantae Preissianae and the first species he described (the type species) was Brachyloma preissii.[4] [5]

Species list

The following is a list of Brachyloma species accepted by the Australian Plant Census as of 10 September 2023:[6]

Distribution

Species of Brachyloma occur in all Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory, but not the Northern Territory.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Albrecht . David E. . Ohlsen . Daniel . Brachyloma . Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria . 10 September 2023.
  2. Web site: Powell . Jocelyn M. . Makinson . Robert O. . Brachyloma . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 10 September 2023.
  3. Web site: Brachyloma . State Herbarium of South Australia . 10 September 2023.
  4. Web site: Brachyloma . Australian Plant Name Index . 10 September 2023.
  5. Book: Sonder . Otto W. . Lehmann . Johann G.C. . Plantae Preissianae . 1 . 1845 . 304–305 . 10 September 2023.
  6. Web site: Brachyloma . Australian Plant Census . 10 September 2023.