Phebalium brachycalyx is a species of shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is more or less covered with silvery and rust-coloured scales, and has narrow oblong leaves with wavy-glandular edges, and white to pale yellow flowers in umbels on the ends of branches.

Phebalium brachycalyx

Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Phebalium
Species:
P. brachycalyx
Binomial name
Phebalium brachycalyx
Synonyms[1]

Phebalium tuberculosum (F.Muell.) Benth.

Description

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Phebalium brachycalyx is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.4–1.5 m (1 ft 4 in – 4 ft 11 in) and is more or less covered with silvery and rust-coloured scales. The leaves are narrow oblong, about 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide on a short petiole. The edge of the leaves are wavy-glandular and the mid-vein on the lower surface is warty. The flowers are white to pale yellow and arranged in umbels of three to six flowers, each flower on a thin pedicel 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long. The sepals are about 1 mm (0.039 in) long and joined for about half their length, scaly on the outside but glabrous inside. The petals are broadly elliptical, about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide, covered with silvery to rust-coloured scales on the outside. Flowering occurs from August to November.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

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Phebalium brachycalyx was first formally described in 1998 by Paul Wilson in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected at the south end of the Wongan Hills by Alex George.[3][5]

Distribution and habitat

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Phebalium brachycalyx grows on laterite on hills between Dalwallinu and Kondinin.[2][4]

Conservation status

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Phebalium brachycalyx is classified as "Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife[2] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Phebalium brachycalyx". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Phebalium brachycalyx". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, Paul G. (1970). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Genera Crowea, Eriostemon and Phebalium (Rutaceae). Nuytsia 1(1):". Nuytsia. 1 (1): 75. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  4. ^ a b Wilson, Paul G. "Phebalium brachycalyx". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Phebalium brachycalyx". APNI. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 14 June 2020.