Leionema ellipticum explained

Leionema ellipticum is a shrub species that is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is a small shrub with smooth green leaves and creamy-white flowers in spring.

Description

Leionema ellipticum is a small shrub to high with smooth, glossy, more or less terete branchlets. The leaves are elliptic, tapering at the base, about long, wide, smooth, papery and rounded at the apex. The inflorescence is a clusters of flowers, each flower about long on a pedicel long and sporadically covered with minute, upright soft hairs. The sepals are shortly attached to the base of the flower, fleshy, triangular shaped, about long and bracteoles falling off early. The white petals are about long, narrow oval shape, smooth and prominently keeled. Flowering occurs from December to January. [1] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Leionema ellipticum was first formally described by Paul G. Wilson in 1998 and the description was published in the Nuytsia.[2] [3] The specific epithet (ellipticum) is derived from the Latin elipticus referring to the shape of the leaves.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This species has a restricted distribution found growing at a windy, mountainous location in north-east Queensland.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wilson . Paul G. . Leionema ellipticum . Flora of Australia. . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. . 30 April 2020.
  2. Web site: Nuytsia . Biodiversity Heritage Library . 30 April 2020.
  3. Web site: Leionema ellipticum . Australian Plant Name Index . 30 April 2020.