Brachyloma nguba is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with narrowly elliptic leaves on the ends of short side-branches, and red urn-shaped flowers.
| Brachyloma nguba | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Brachyloma |
| Species: | B. nguba
|
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyloma nguba | |
Description
editBrachyloma nguba is a shrub that typically grows to 40 cm (16 in) high and has bristly hairs on its branches. Its leaves are narrowly elliptic, 2.0–3.0 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long and 0.9–1.0 mm (0.035–0.039 in) wide on petiole 0.4–0.6 mm (0.016–0.024 in) wide. The upper surface of the leaves is rough, the lower surface is covered with bristly hairs, many prominent veins, and there is a small, fine point on the tip. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a pedicel 0.2–0.3 mm (0.0079–0.0118 in) long with 2 bracts 1.5–2 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and 3 sessile bracteoles 0.5–1.0 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long at the base. The sepals are egg-shaped, overlapping each other, 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long and wide, and the petals are red, and joined to form an urn-shaped tube 3.0–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long with broadly triangular lobes 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs in April and May.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editBrachyloma nguba was first formally described 1998 by Raymond Jeffrey Cranfield in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected he collected 50 km (31 mi) east-north-east of Hyden in 1997.[3][4] The specific epithet (nguba) is a Nyoongar word meaning "blood", referring to the colour of the flowers.[3]
Distribution
editThis species grows in open mallee woodland in the Mallee bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[2][3]
Conservation status
editBrachyloma nguba is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[2] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.
References
edit- ^ "Brachyloma nguba". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "Brachyloma nguba". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b c d Cranfield, Raymond J. (1998). "Brachyloma nguba (Epacridaceae), a new species from the south-west of Western Australia". Nuytsia. 12 (3): 180–182. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
- ^ "Brachyloma nguba". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 2 November 2023.