Micromyrtus uniovulum is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading, sometimes erect shrub with oblong leaves, and white flowers with 10 stamens.
| Micromyrtus uniovulum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Micromyrtus |
| Species: | M. uniovulum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Micromyrtus uniovulum | |
Description
editMicromyrtus uniovulum is a low, spreading, sometimes erect shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 40 cm (16 in). Its leaves are narrowly to broadly oblong, 1.5–4.5 mm (0.059–0.177 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide on a petiole 0.3–0.5 mm (0.012–0.020 in) long usually with 5 to 8 oil glands on each side of the midvein. The flowers are arranged in racemes up to 30 upper leaf axils and are about 3 mm (0.12 in) in diameter on a peduncle 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028 in) long. The floral tube is 2.0–2.3 mm (0.079–0.091 in) long with 5 ribs. The sepals are 0.3–0.4 mm (0.012–0.016 in) long and 0.5–0.6 mm (0.020–0.024 in) wide. The petals are white, widely spreading and egg-shaped, and there are 10 stamens. Flowering occurs from September to December and the fruit is about 1.8 mm (0.071 in) long .[2]
Taxonomy
editMicromyrtus uniovulum was first formally described in 2002 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Bunny Road in 1999.[2][3] The specific epithet (uniovulum) means "one egg" and refers to the species having only one ovule in the ovary.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species is found on the lateritic rises in a mall area west of Three Springs in the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[2][4]
Conservation status
editMicromyrtus uniovulum is listed as "Priority Two"[4] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Micromyrtus uniovulum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ a b c d Rye, Barbara L. (2002). "A revision of south-western Australian species of Micromyrtus (Myrtaceae) with five antisepalous ribs on the hypanthium". Nuytsia. 15: 118–119. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ "Micromyrtus uniovulum". APNI. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Micromyrtus uniovulum". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 28 March 2024.