Lechenaultia heteromera explained

Lechenaultia heteromera, commonly known as claw leschenaultia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a subshrub with a few wand-like branches, fleshy leaves, and white and pale blue flowers.

Description

Lechenaultia heteromera is an ascending subshrub that typically grows to a height of and has a few wand-like branches. Its leaves are fleshy, often down-curved, and long. The flowers are arranged in groups near the ends of branchlets, and have sepals long. The petals are long with a few long, with soft hairs inside the white petal tube. The wings on the lower lobes are triangular, wide, and on the upper lobes up to wide, the wings and lobes pale blue. Flowers occurs from August to December and the fruit is long.[1]

Taxonomy

Lechenaultia heteromera was first formally described in 1868 by George Bentham in Flora Australiensis from specimens collected from East Mount Barren by George Maxwell.[2] [3] The specific epithet (heteromera) means "unequal parts", referring to the petal lobes.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Claw leschenaultia grows in heath, scrub and woodland on the south coast of south-western Western Australia between Starvation Boat Harbour and West Mount Barren in the Esperance Plains and Mallee biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.[1]

Conservation status

This leschenaultia is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Morrison . Donald A. . Lechenaultia heteromera . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 6 February 2022.
  2. Web site: Lechenaultia heteromera. APNI. 6 February 2022.
  3. Book: Bentham . George . von Mueller . Ferdinand . Flora Australiensis . 4 . 1868 . Lovell Reeve & Co. . London . 43 . 6 February 2022.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 217 . 3rd.