Marianthus bicolor explained

Marianthus bicolor, commonly known as painted marianthus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Pittosporaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a low, erect, spreading shrub or climber with narrowly elliptic leaves and white to cream-coloured flowers with maroon or purple striations flowers arranged in branched clusters.

Description

Marianthus bicolor is a low, erect, spreading shrub or climber with reddish purple new stems. Its adult leaves are narrowly elliptic, long and wide on a short petiole. The leaves are thick and both surfaces of the mature leaves are covered with a waxy bloom. The flowers are borne in branched clusters on a peduncle long, the sepals egg-shaped, thickened and wavy, up to long and yellow on the outer surface. The five petals are narrowly spatula-shaped, long and up to wide, white to cream-coloured with maroon or purple striations. Flowering mainly occurs from December to March.[1]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1839 by Alois (Aloys) Putterlick in Novarum Stirpium Decades.[2] [3] In 1860, Ferdinand von Mueller transferred the species to Marianthus as M. bicolor in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[4] The specific epithet (bicolor) means "two colours".[5]

Distribution and habitat

Marianthus bicolor grows in mallee in valleys, on hills, flats, sandplains and roadsides, and is widespread in the south-west of Western Australia, mainly from the Darling Range to Ravensthorpe.

Conservation status

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marianthus bicolor . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 13 June 2023.
  2. Web site: Oncosporum bicolor. APNI. 13 June 2023.
  3. Book: Putterlick . Alois . Endlicher . Stephan . Fenzl . Edouard . Novarum Stirpium Decades . 1839 . 9–10 . 21 March 2023.
  4. Web site: Marianthus bicolor. APNI . 13 June 2023.
  5. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 146 . 3rd.