Styphelia kingiana explained

Styphelia kingiana is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, compact shrub with sharply pointed, egg-shaped leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged in clusters near the ends of branchlets.

Description

Styphelia kingiana is an erect, compact shrub that typically grows to a height of and has densely hairy young branches. Its leaves are sharply-pointed, egg-shaped, long and wide. The flowers are borne in clusters near the ends of branchlets, extending past the leaves. There are egg-shaped, fleshy bracts long and 3 or 4 almost round bracteoles long at the base of the flowers. The sepals are egg-shaped, long and pale yellowish-green. The petals are joined at the base to form a yellowish-green tube long with white, spreading lobes long. Flowering occurs in August and September and the fruit is dry, long and wide.[1]

Taxonomy

Styphelia kingiana was first described in 1893 by Ferdinand von Mueller in The Victorian Naturalist from specimens collected near Lake Deborah (near Koolynobbing).[2] [3] The specific epithet (kingiana) honours Henry John King.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This styphelia occurs in sandy soils in open heath or low open woodland in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Mallee and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status

Styphelia kingiana is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Notes and References

  1. Powell . Jocelyn M. . Croninia kingiana (Epacridaceae), a change in status for Leucopogon kingianus. . Nuytsia . 1993 . 9 . 1 . 125–130 . 28 January 2024.
  2. Web site: Styphelia kingiana. APNI. 28 January 2024.
  3. von Mueller . Ferdinand . Descriptions of new Australian plants, with occasional other annotations . The Victorian Naturalist . 1893 . 10 . 5 . 78–79 . 28 January 2024.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 231 . 3rd.