Apectospermum subtenue is a species of small shrub in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has thick, elliptical, concave leaves, white or pink flowers and fruit that falls from the plant when mature. It occurs to the south of Kalgoorlie.
| Apectospermum subtenue | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Apectospermum |
| Species: | A. subtenue
|
| Binomial name | |
| Apectospermum subtenue | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Leptospermum subtenue Joy Thomps. | |
Description
editApectospermum subtenue is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in). It has thin, rough bark and thin young stems that are silky hairy at first, soon glabrous. The leaves are thick, concave, elliptical 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) wide, tapering to a thin petiole. The flowers are white or pink, up to 12 mm (0.47 in) wide and are borne singly or in pairs on the ends of long, thin side branches. The floral cup is dark-coloured and hairy, about 3 mm (0.12 in) long, tapering tp a short pedicel. The sepals are broadly egg-shaped, about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, the petals about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and the stamens about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. Flowering mainly occurs from August to October.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editThis species was first formally described in 1989 by Joy Thompson (botanist) who gave it the name Leptospermum subtenue in the journal Telopea from specimens collected by Cecil Andrews, north of Esperance in 1903.[2][4][5] In 2023, Peter Gordon Wilson transferred the species to the genus Apectospermum as A. macgillivrayi in the journal Taxon.[1][6] The specific epithet (subtenue) means 'almost slender'.[7]
Distribution and habitat
editThis teatree is found in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia between Coolgardie and Esperance where it grows in lateritic soils.[2][3]
Conservation status
editThis species is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Apectospermum subtenue". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
- ^ a b c Thompson, Joy (1989). "A revision of the genus Leptospermum (Myrtaceae)". Telopea. 3 (3): 353.
- ^ a b c "Apectospermum subtenue". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Leptospermum subtenue". APNI. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ "Andrews, Cecil R.P. (1870 - 1951)". Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- ^ Wilson, Peter G.; Heslewood, Margaret M. (2023). "Revised taxonomy of the tribe Leptospermeae (Myrtaceae) based on morphological and DNA data". Taxon. 72 (3): 550–571. doi:10.1002/tax.12892. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
- ^ Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. pp. 316–317. ISBN 9780958034180.