Micromyrtus leptocalyx explained

Micromyrtus hexamera is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a shrub with erect or spreading branchlets, overlapping linear leaves, and white flowers arranged singly in leaf axils with 5 stamens in each flower.

Description

Micromyrtus hexamera is a shrub that typically grows up to high and has erect or spreading branchlets. Its leaves are overlapping, linear, long, wide and sessile or on a petiole up to long. The leaves are glabrous, have many oil glands, and the lower surface is keeled. The flowers are wide and arranged singly in leaf axils on a peduncle long, with 2 bracteoles about long at the base, but that fall off as the flowers open. There are 5 semicircular, translucent sepals lobes long, and 5 more or less round white petals in diameter. There are 5 stamens, the filaments about long. Flowering has been recorded in most months, with a peak around September.[1] [2]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1858 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Baeckea leptocalyx in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[3] In 1867, George Bentham transferred the species to the genus Micromyrtus as M. leptocalyx in his Flora Australiensis.[4] The specific epithet (leptocalyx) means "slender sepals".[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species of micromyrtus grows in deeply weathered sandstone hills in central Queensland, mainly between Springsure and Tambo, but also near Alpha, Mitchell and Morven.

Notes and References

  1. Bean . Anthony R. . A revision of Micromyrtus Benth. (Myrtaceae) in Queensland. . Austrobaileya . 1997 . 4 . 4 . 462–463 . 11 December 2023.
  2. Book: Bentham . George . Flora Australiensis . 1867 . Lovell Reeve & Co. . London . 65–66 . 11 December 2023.
  3. Web site: Baeckea leptocalyx . APNI. 11 December 2023.
  4. Web site: Micromyrtus leptocalyx . APNI. 11 December 2023.
  5. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 238 . 3rd.