Hibbertia stelligera explained

Hibbertia stelligera is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a small, multi-stemmed shrub with linear leaves and yellow flowers arranged singly near the ends of branches, with 20 to 32 stamens arranged in bundles around two densely scaly carpels.

Description

Hibbertia stelligera is a multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows to a height of up to and has its foliage covered with rosette-like hairs. The leaves are linear, mostly long and wide on a petiole long. The flowers are arranged singly at the end of branches or in leaf axils, each flower on a thread-like peduncle long, with oblong bracts at the base. The five sepals are joined at the base, the two outer sepal lobes long and wide, and the inner lobes longer and broader. The five petals are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, yellow, long and there are 20 to 32 stamens arranged in groups around the two densely scaly carpels, each carpel with two ovules.[1]

Taxonomy

This hibbertia was first formally described in 1936 by Cyril Tenison White who gave it the name Hibbertia stirlingii f. stelligera in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland from specimens collected in 1934 by Leonard John Brass near Ravenshoe at an altitude of .[2] [3] In 2010, Hellmut R. Toelken raised the form to species status as Hibbertia stelligera.[4] The specific epithet (stelligera) means "star-bearing".[5]

Distribution and habitat

This hibbertia grows in woodland with a heathy understorey in northern Queensland.

Conservation status

Hibbertia stelligera is classified as "least concern" under[6] the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Toelken . Hellmut R. . Notes on Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae) 5. H. melhanioides and H. tomentosa groups from tropical Australia. Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens . 2010 . 23 . 91–94. 24 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Hibbertia stirlingii f. stelligera. APNI. 24 October 2021.
  3. White . Cyril T. . Contributions to the Queensland flora, No. 5 . Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland . 1936 . 47 . 51–52 . 24 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Hibbertia stelligera. APNI. 24 October 2021.
  5. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 313 . 3rd.
  6. Web site: Species profile—Hibbertia stelligera . Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science . 24 October 2021.