Persoonia spathulata explained

Persoonia spathulata is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect to spreading shrub with hairy young branchlets, spatula-shaped leaves, and yellow flowers arranged singly or in pairs on a rachis up to long that continues to grow after flowering.

Description

Persoonia spathulata is an erect to spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of with smooth bark and young branchlets that are covered with both brown glandular hairs and greyish non-glandular hairs. The leaves are mostly spatula-shaped, long and wide and twisted at the base. The flowers are arranged singly or in pairs on a rachis up to long, each flower on a pedicel long with a leaf or scale leaf at the base. The tepals are yellow, long, and the anthers are yellow. Flowering occurs from December to January and the fruit is a smooth drupe.[1] [2]

Taxonomy

Persoonia spathulata was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London from specimens he collected at Lucky Bay.[3] [4]

Distribution and habitat

This geebung grows in heath in the area between Dingo Rock, Cape Le Grand and Israelite Bay in the south-west of Western Australia.

Conservation status

Persoonia spathulata is classified as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Weston . Peter H. . Persoonia spathulata . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 7 November 2020.
  2. Weston . Peter H. . The Western Australian species of subtribe Persooniinae (Proteaceae: Persooniodeae: Persoonieae). . Telopea . 1994 . 6 . 1 . 129–131 . 7 November 2020.
  3. Web site: Persoonia spathulata. APNI. 7 November 2020.
  4. Brown . Robert . On the Proteaceae of Jussieu. . Transactions of the Linnean Society of London . 1810 . 10 . 1 . 162 . 7 November 2020.
  5. Web site: Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna. Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. 7 November 2020.