Teucrium pilbaranum explained

Teucrium pilbaranum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is an upright subshrub with three-part or deeply-lobed leaves and white flowers.

Description

Teucrium pilbaranum is an upright subshrub that typically grows to a height of up to, with branches that are square in cross-section and sparsely hairy. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, three-part or deeply-lobed, the segments narrow egg-shaped long, wide and sometimes covered with glandular hairs. The flowers are arranged in groups of between four and eight near the ends of the stems, each flower in a leaf axil. The five sepals are long, joined at the base for about half their length, and more or less glabrous. The petals are white, long with the lower middle lobe about long and wide. The four stamens have filaments long. Flowering has been observed in May and September.[1]

Taxonomy

Teucrium pilbaranum was first formally described in 1999 by Barry Conn in the journal Telopea from specimens collected by Andrew Mitchell near Mulga Downs homestead in 1995.[2] The specific epithet (pilbaranum) refers to the occurrence of this species in the Pilbara region.

Distribution and habitat

This germander grows in the floodplain of the Fortescue River in the Pilbara biogeographic region of Western Australia.

Conservation status

Teucrium pilbaranum is listed 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.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Conn . Barry J. . Teucrium pilbaranum (Labiatae), a new species from the Pilbara, Western Australia. Telopea . 1999 . 8 . 3 . 299–302 . 10.7751/telopea19995417 . 11 March 2021. free .
  2. Web site: Teucrium pilbaranum. APNI. 10 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna. Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. 11 March 2021.