Leionema obtusifolium explained

Leionema obtusifolium, is a small shrub with yellow-white flowers in terminal clusters at the end of branches. It is endemic to Queensland.

Description

Leionema obtusifolium is a small shrub to high with a smooth, shiny appearance. The branchlets are flattened with noticeable acute angles and a finely warty surface. The sessile leaves are smooth, papery, narrowly elliptic or with straight sides and rounded apex to spoon-shaped, long, wide, minutely scalloped near the apex that is rounded to blunt. The flowers are a cyme formation of 10-20 flowers at the end of branches on slender stalks long. The sepals are hemispherical shaped, long and the lobes long. The yellowish white spreading petals are narrowly egg-shaped, about long and the stamens more or less equal in length of the petals. Flowering occurs in spring.[1]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1970 by Paul G. Wilson and gave it the name Phebalium obtusifolium.[2] [3] In 1998 Paul G. Wilson changed the name to Leionema obtusifolium and the name change was published in the journal Nuytsia.[4] [5]

Distribution and habitat

This species has a restricted distribution, growing on sandstone hills in the Helidon and Ravensbourne areas of south-eastern Queensland.[1]

Conservation status

Leionema obtusifolium is classified as "vulnerable" by the Government of Queensland Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wilson . Paul G. . Flora of Australia-Volume 26 Meliaceae, Rutaceae, Zygophyllaceae . 1999 . ABRS-Department of Environment & Heritage . Canberra/Melbourne . 9780643109551 . 437–438.
  2. Web site: Phebalium obtusifolium . Australian Plant Name Index . 24 June 2020.
  3. Wilson . Paul G. . A Taxonomic Revision of the Genera Crowea, Eriostemon and Phebalium (Rutaceae) . Nuytsia . 1970 . 1 . 1 . 107 . 24 June 2020.
  4. Web site: Wilson . Paul G. . Leionema obtusifolium . Australian Plant Name Index . 24 June 2020.
  5. Wilson . Paul G. . New species and nomenclatural changes in Phebalium and related genera (Rutaceae) . Nuytsia . 1998 . 12 . 2 . 276 . 24 June 2020.
  6. Web site: Leionema obtusifolium . Species Profile & Threats Database . Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Water & Environment . 24 June 2020.