Daviesia intricata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a glabrous shrub with densely tangled branches, sharply-pointed, needle-shaped or flattened phyllodes and apricot-yellow and dark red flowers.

Daviesia intricata
Subspecies intricata near Quairading
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Daviesia
Species:
D. intricata
Binomial name
Daviesia intricata
Habit
Subspecies xiphophylla

Description

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Daviesia intricata is a glabrous shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in), and has densely tangled branches. Its phyllodes are mainly confined to near the ends of branchlets, sharply-pointed, needle-shaped, mostly 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long, 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) wide and needle-shaped or flattened, depending on subspecies. The flowers are arranged in clusters of three to seven in leaf axils on a peduncle 0.5–1.0 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long, the rachis 1–5 mm (0.039–0.197 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long. The sepals are 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long and joined at the base, the lower three lobes longer than the upper two. The standard petal is elliptic with a notched tip, 4.5–5.5 mm (0.18–0.22 in) long and apricot yellow with a reddish-black centre, the wings 4.5–5.0 mm (0.18–0.20 in) long and dark red, and the keel 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and dark red. Flowering occurs from May to August and the fruit is broadly triangular, slightly inflated pod 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

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Daviesia intricata was first formally described in 1995 by Michael Crisp in Australian Systematic Botany from specimens he collected in Tutanning Reserve near Pingelly in 1980.[4] The specific epithet (intricata) means "entangled", referring to the habit of this species.[5]

In the same journal article, Crisp described two subspecies, and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

  • Daviesia intricata Crisp subsp. intricata;[6][7]
  • Daviesia intricata subsp. xiphophylla Crisp[8] is a smaller (up to 50 cm (20 in) tall) plant than the autonym and has phyllodes that are vertically flattened, rather than needle-shaped.[2][9]

Distribution and habitat

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Subspecies intricata grows in woodland, mallee, heathland and shrubland between the Charles Gardner Reserve near Tammin, Dumbleyung and Ravensthorpe and subsp. xiphophylla is found in heathland and mallee scrub from near Southern Cross to Marble Rocks east of Hyden.[2][7][9]

Conservation status

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Both subspecies of D. intricata are listed as "not threatened" by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[7][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Daviesia intricata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Crisp, Michael D.; Cayzer, Lindy; Chandler, Gregory T.; Cook, Lyn G. (2017). "A monograph of Daviesia (Mirbelieae, Faboideae, Fabaceae)". Phytotaxa. 300 (1): 247–249. doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.300.1.1.
  3. ^ "Daviesia intricata". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ^ "Daviesia intricata". APNI. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  5. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 226. ISBN 9780958034180.
  6. ^ "Daviesia intricata subsp. intricata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b c "Daviesia intricata subsp. intricata". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  8. ^ "Daviesia intricata subsp. xiphophylla". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "Daviesia intricata subsp. xiphophylla". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.