Andersonia ferricola is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of the southwest of Western Australia. It is a straggling shrub with twisted, narrowly egg-shaped leaves and pale lilac, tube-shaped flowers.
| Andersonia ferricola | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Andersonia |
| Species: | A. ferricola
|
| Binomial name | |
| Andersonia ferricola | |
Description
editAndersonia ferricola is a straggling shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 50 cm (20 in). The leaves are wavy, twisted, narrowly egg-shaped, and 8–15 mm (0.31–0.59 in) long, the upper surface more or less glabrous and the lower surface with a few woolly hairs. The flowers are arranged in clusters of up to 30 in leaf axils, with narrowly egg-shaped, leaf-like bracteoles 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long. The sepals are narrowly egg-shaped to linear, 8–9 mm (0.31–0.35 in) long, and the petals form a cylindrical tube 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long with lobes spreading lobes 2.2–3.0 mm (0.087–0.118 in) long. The stamens are 6.6–8 mm (0.26–0.31 in) long, the anthers white and spindle-shaped to linear 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editAndersonia ferricola was first formally described in 2007 by Kristina L. Lemson in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected in the Whicher Range area in 1993.[2][4] The specific epithet (ferricola) means 'iron-dweller', and refers to the species ironstone habitat.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species of Andersonia grows in dense, low heath on winter-wet ironstone flats in a small area south-east of Busselton in the Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[2]
Conservation status
editAndersonia ferricola is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[3] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations where it is potentially at risk.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Andersonia ferricola". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d Lemson, Kristina L. (2007). "New species of Andersonia (Ericaceae) of conservation concern". Nuytsia. 17: 199–202. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ a b "Andersonia ferricola". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Andersonia ferricola". APNI. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 25 October 2024.