Hibbertia decumbens explained

Hibbertia decumbens is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It is a spreading, almost prostrate shrub with hairy foliage, egg-shaped to almost round leaves, and yellow flowers usually with nine to twelve stamens arranged in a group on one side of two carpels.

Description

Hibbertia decumbens is a spreading to almost prostrate shrub that typically grows to a height of up to, the foliage covered with simple and star-like hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base to almost round, long and wide on a petiole long. The flowers are arranged on the ends of branchlets on a peduncle long, with linear bracts long. The five sepals are joined at the base, the sepal lobes long. The five petals are egg-shaped to wedge-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, bright yellow, long with a notch at the tip. There are usually nine to twelve stamens arranged in one group alongside the two woolly-hairy carpels, each carpel with two ovules. Flowering occurs from October to January.[1] [2]

Taxonomy

Hibbertia decumbens was first formally described in 1998 by Hellmut R. Toelken in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens from specimens collected near Wentworth Falls in 1987.[3] The specific epithet (decumbens) means prostrate, but with rising tips.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This hibbertia grows on sandstone ledges in a few locations in the Blue Mountains.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Toelken . Hellmut R. . Notes on Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae) 2. The H. asperaH. empetrifolia complex . Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens . 1998 . 18 . 2 . 135–137 . 11 May 2021.
  2. Web site: Hibbertia decumbens . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 11 May 2021.
  3. Web site: Hibbertia decumbens. APNI. 22 April 2021.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 179 . 3rd.