Lechenaultia subcymosa explained

Lechenaultia subcymosa, commonly known as wide-branching leschenaultia,is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to the far west of south-western Western Australia. It is an ascending herb or subshrub with only a few widely spreading branches, narrow, rigid leaves crowded on short, leafy stems, and creamy-white to pale mauve flowers.

Description

Lechenaultia subcymosa is an ascending herb or subshrub with only a few widely spreading branches that typically grows to a height of up to and has only a few widely spreading branches. The leaves are narrow, rigid, long and crowded on a few leafy stems. The flowers are creamy-white to pale mauve, the sepals long and the petals long with soft hairs inside the petal tube. The wings on the lower lobes are wide and on the upper lobes are wide. Flowering occurs sporadically in response to rainfall, and the fruit is long.[1]

Taxonomy

Lechenaultia subcymosa was first formally described in 1963 by Charles Gardner and Alex George in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia from specimens collected by George near Learmonth in 1962.[2] [3] The specific epithet (subcymosa) means "somewhat cymose".[4]

Distribution and habitat

Wide-branching leschenaultia grows in shallow soil over limestone in low shrubland in near-coastal areas on the North West Cape and on islands in Shark Bay, in the Carnarvon, Geraldton Sandplains and Yalgoo biogeographic regions of far western Western Australia.

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 . David A. . Lechenaultia subcymosa . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 13 March 2022.
  2. Web site: Lechenaultia subcymosa. APNI. 13 March 2022.
  3. Gardner . Charles A. . George . Alex S. . Eight new plants from Western Australia . Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia . 1963 . 46 . 134 . 13 March 2022.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 287 . 3rd.