Daviesia gracilis explained

Daviesia gracilis is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an open, spreading shrub with its phyllodes reduced to scales, and has orange-yellow and maroon flowers.

Description

Daviesia gracilis is an open, spreading, glabrous shrub that typically grows to a height of up to, its phyllodes reduced to scales. The flowers are arranged in groups of three to five on a peduncle long, the rachis long, each flower on a pedicel long with oblong, overlapping bracts about long at the base. The sepals are about long and joined at the base. The standard petal is elliptic, long and orange-yellow with a thin maroon border, the wings about long and maroon, and the keel is long and maroon. Flowering occurs from July to October and the fruit is a flattened triangular pod long.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

Daviesia gracilis was first formally described in 1984 by Michael Crisp in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by Archibald Menzies at King George Sound in 1791.[2] The specific epithet (gracilis) means "thin or slender".[3]

Distribution and habitat

This daviesia grows in heath or open woodland between Kojonup, King George Sound and Bremer Bay in the Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest regions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status

Daviesia gracilis is listed as "not threatened" by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Notes and References

  1. Crisp . Michael D. . Cayzer . Lindy . Chandler . Gregory T. . Cook . Lyn G. . A monograph of Daviesia (Mirbelieae, Faboideae, Fabaceae) . Phytotaxa . 2017 . 300 . 1 . 153–154 . 10.11646/phytotaxa.300.1.1. free .
  2. Web site: Daviesia gracilis. APNI. 15 January 2022.
  3. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 209 . 3rd.