Goodenia microptera explained

Goodenia microptera is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is an erect to ascending, sprawling herb with narrow oblong to lance-shaped leaves sometimes with teeth on the edges, and racemes of yellow flowers with a brownish centre.

Description

Goodenia microptera is an erect to ascending, sprawling herb, growing to a height of up to and densely covered with simple and glandular hairs. The leaves are mostly arranged at the base of the plant, narrow oblong to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide, sometimes with teeth on the edges. The flowers are arranged in racemes long with leaf-like bracts, the individual flowers on pedicels long. The sepals are narrow elliptic, long, the corolla yellow with a brownish centre, long. The lower lobes of the corolla are long with wings wide. Flowering mainly occurs from March to August and the fruit is a flattened spherical capsule in diameter.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

Goodenia microptera was first formally described in 1862 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected by P. Walcott near Nickol Bay.[2] [3] The specific epithet (microptera) means "small-winged".[4]

Distribution and habitat

This goodenia grows on plains, sand dunes and limestone ridges in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Conservation status

Goodenia microptera is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Carolin . Roger C. . Goodenia microptera . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 10 March 2021.
  2. Web site: Goodenia microptera. APNI. 10 March 2021.
  3. Book: von Mueller . Ferdinand . Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae . 3. 1862 . Victorian Government Printer . Melbourne . 34 . 10 March 2021.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 3rd. 252.