Calytrix longiflora explained

Calytrix longiflora, commonly known as pink fringe myrtle,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with egg-shaped to narrowly lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and pink to mauve flowers with about 35 to 65 yellowish stamens in several rows.

Description

Calytrix longiflora is a mostly glabrous shrub that typically grows to a height of up to . Its leaves are egg-shaped to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, sometimes elliptic or linear, long and wide on a petiole long. There are stipules up to long at the base of the petiole. The flowers are borne on a peduncle long with more or less round to egg-shaped lobes with the narrower end towards the base, long. The floral tube is free from the style, long and has 10 ribs. The sepals are fused at the base, with more or less round to broadly elliptic lobes long and wide, with an awn up to long. The petals are pink to mauve, whitish near the base, narrowly elliptic, long and wide, and there are about 35 to 65 yellowish stamens in several rows. Flowering occurs from January to November, usually in January and February and from September to November.[2] [3]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1858 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Calycothrix longiflora in his Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected by Tomas Mitchell.[4] [5] In 1867, George Bentham transferred the species to Calytrix as C. longiflora in his Flora Australiensis.[6] [7] The specific epithet (longiflora) means 'long-flowered'.[8]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Calytrix grows in ironbark-Triodia vegetation on sand dunes from the Springsure-Tambo district in Queensland to the Yantabulla-Bourke district in New South Wales.

Conservation status

Calytrix longiflora is listed as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Species profile—Calytrix longiflora (pink fringe myrtle). Queensland Government Department of Education and Science . 12 November 2024.
  2. Craven . Lyndley . A taxonomic revision of Calytrix Labill. (Myrtaceae). . Brunonia . 1987 . 74–75.
  3. Web site: Wilson . Peter G. . Calytrix longiflora . Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney . 12 November 2024.
  4. Web site: Calycothrix longiflora . Australian Plant Name Index . 12 November 2024.
  5. Book: von Mueller . Ferdinand . Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae . 1858 . Victorian Government Printer . Melbourne . 12–13 . 12 November 2024.
  6. Web site: Calytrix longiflora . Australian Plant Name Index . 12 November 2024.
  7. Book: Bentham . George . Flora Australiensis . 1867 . 3 . Lovell Reeves & Co. . London . 49–50 . 12 November 2024.
  8. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 242 . 3rd.