Phebalium elegans is a species of spreading shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has warty branchlets, wedge-shaped leaves and two to five white flowers arranged in umbels on the ends of branchlets.
| Phebalium elegans | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Phebalium |
| Species: | P. elegans
|
| Binomial name | |
| Phebalium elegans | |
Description
editPhebalium elegans is a spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.3–1.5 m (1 ft 0 in – 4 ft 11 in). It has warty branchlets covered with silvery scales. The leaves are wedge-shaped, covered with warty glands, about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide, glabrous on the upper surface and covered with silvery scales below. Two to five white flowers are arranged in umbels on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a silvery-scaly pedicel 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long. The calyx is about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long, with silvery to reddish -brown scales on the outside. The petals are broadly elliptical, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and covered with silvery to rust-coloured scales on the back. Flowering occurs from July to September.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
editPhebalium elegans was first formally described in 1998 by Paul Wilson in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected in the Fraser Range east of Norseman by Kenneth Newbey in 1980.[3][5]
Distribution and habitat
editPhebalium elegans grows on rocky hills from the Bremer Range to the Fraser Range.[2][4]
Conservation status
editThis phebalium is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Phebalium elegans". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Phebalium elegans". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b Wilson, Paul G. (1998). "New species and nomenclatural changes in Phebalium and related genera (Rutaceae)". Nuytsia. 12 (2): 282. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ a b Wilson, Paul G. "Phebalium elegans". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
- ^ "Phebalium elegans". APNI. Retrieved 18 June 2020.