Goodenia debilis explained

Goodenia debilis is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is an annual herb with linear to lance-shaped leaves at the base of the plant, and leafy racemes of cream-coloured or yellow flowers with brownish markings.

Description

Goodenia debilis is an ascending or weakly erect annual herb that typically grows to a height of about . The leaves are arranged at the base of the plant and are sessile, linear to lance-shaped, long and wide. The flowers are arranged in leafy racemes up to long, each flower on a pedicel long. The sepals are linear, long, the petals cream-coloured or yellow with brownish markings, long, the lower lobes long with wings about wide. Flowering occurs from February to September and the fruit is an elliptic capsule long and wide.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

Goodenia debilis was first formally described in 2002 by Ailsa E. Holland and T.P. Boyle in the journal Austrobaileya from specimens collected in Bulleringa National Park.[2] The specific epithet (debilis) means "feeble" or "weak".[3]

Distribution and habitat

This goodenia grows in woodland with species of Eucalyptus and Melaleuca in Queensland between the Torres Strait Islands and Townsville with a single collection on Mornington Island.

Notes and References

  1. Holland . Ailsa E. . Boyle . T.P. . Four new species of Goodenia Smith (Goodeniaceae) from Queensland. . Austrobaileya . 2002 . 6 . 2 . 256–257 . 14 January 2021.
  2. Web site: Goodenia debilis. APNI. 14 January 2021.
  3. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 179 . 3rd.