Brachyloma stenolobum explained

Brachyloma stenolobum is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to a restricted area in the west of Western Australia. It is an erect, compact shrub with narrowly elliptic or elliptic leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers.

Description

Brachyloma stenolobum is an erect, compact shrub that usually grows to about high, wide and has a single stem at ground level. The leaves are narrowly elliptic to elliptic, long and wide on a petiole long. The leaves are more or less glabrous and both sides are a similar shade of green. The flowers are arranged singly or in pairs in leaf axils on a peduncle long. There are egg-shaped bracts long and bracteoles long and wide at the base of the flowers. The sepals are egg-shaped or broadly egg-shaped, long, wide, and pale green or straw-coloured. The petals are white, and joined to form a tube long with narrowly triangular lobes long. Flowering has only been observed in May.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

Brachyloma stenolobum was first formally described 2014 by Michael Clyde Hislop and Raymond Jeffrey Cranfield in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by Hislop near Forrestaina in 2013.[2] The specific epithet (stenolobum) means "narrow lobe" and refers to the relatively narrow petal lobes.

Distribution

This species of shrub grows in yellow sandplains in heath in the Forrestania area in the Coolgardie bioregion of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status

Brachyloma stenolobum is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Hislop . Michael . Cranfield . Raymond J. . Brachyloma stenolobum (Ericaceae: Styphelioideae: Styphelieae), a new, white-flowered species for Western Australia. . Nuytsia . 2014 . 24 . 259–261 . 23 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Brachyloma stenolobum . Australian Plant Name Index . 23 November 2023.
  3. Web site: Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna. Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. 23 November 2023.