Micromyrtus placoides is a species of the flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the inland areas of Western Australia. It is a shrub with glabrous, oblong to almost round leaves, white flowers 3.0–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) in diameter, and 10 stamens in each flower.

Micromyrtus placoides

Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Micromyrtus
Species:
M. placoides
Binomial name
Micromyrtus placoides

Description

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Micromyrtus placoides is a shrub that typically grows to 0.5–2.3 m (1 ft 8 in – 7 ft 7 in) high and more than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide, with several stems or branches from its base. Its leaves are oblong to almost round, 1.3–2.2 mm (0.051–0.087 in) long and 0.8–1.3 mm (0.031–0.051 in) wide on a petiole about 0.3 mm (0.012 in) long. The flowers are 5.0–5.5 mm (0.20–0.22 in) in diameter, and arranged in between 4 and 7 upper leaf axils on a peduncle 0.4–0.8 mm (0.016–0.031 in) long. The sepals are egg-shaped, 0.5–0.6 mm (0.020–0.024 in) wide and green with deep reddish-brown to white edges. The petals are white, broadly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base and about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. There are 10 stamens in each flower with 5 almost half-way down the hypanthium, the anthers about 0.35 mm (0.014 in) long. Flowering occurs between July and September.[2][3]

Taxonomy

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Micromyrtus placoides was first formally described in 2006 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by Malcolm Eric Trudgen near Tallering Peak in 1978.[2][4] The specific epithet (placoides) means "plate-like", referring to the hypanthium.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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This species occurs in a similar habitat to M. acuta, possibly also on granite, and occurs near Tallatering Peak and near Cue in the Murchison and Yalgoo biogeographic regions of inland Western Australia.[2][3]

Conservation status

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Micromyrtus placoides is listed as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife[3] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Micromyrtus placoides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Rye, Barbara L. (2002). "A partial revision of the south-western Australian species of Micromyrtus (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae)". Nuytsia. 16 (1): 134–135. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Micromyrtus placoides". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ^ "Micromyrtus placoides". APNI. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 31 December 2023.