Pseudanthus orbicularis is a species of flowering plant in the family Picrodendraceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a compact, monoecious shrub with simple, broadly elliptic to round leaves and creamy white, red or pale red flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.
| Pseudanthus orbicularis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malpighiales |
| Family: | Picrodendraceae |
| Genus: | Pseudanthus |
| Species: | P. orbicularis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudanthus orbicularis | |
Description
editPseudanthus orbicularis is a compact, monoecious shrub that typically grows up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) high and wide, and has glabrous branchlets. The leaves are broadly elliptic to round, 1.4–3.6 mm (0.055–0.142 in) long and 1.2–2.3 mm (0.047–0.091 in) wide on a petiole 0.2–0.6 mm (0.0079–0.0236 in) long with reddish-brown, triangular stipules 0.4–0.7 mm (0.016–0.028 in) long at the base. The flowers are arranged singly in upper leaf axils with bracts 0.3–0.5 mm (0.012–0.020 in) long at the base. Male flowers are on a pedicel 0.4–0.6 mm (0.016–0.024 in) long, the 6 tepals creamy white or red, 0.9–1.3 mm (0.035–0.051 in) long and 0.5–0.8 mm (0.020–0.031 in) wide and there are 6 stamens. Female flowers are sessile, the 5 or 6 tepals pale red, 1.4–1.7 mm (0.055–0.067 in) long and 0.6–0.9 mm (0.024–0.035 in) wide. Flowering occurs in most months, and the fruit is a narrowly oval capsule 3.8–4.5 mm (0.15–0.18 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
editThis species was first formally described in 1864 by Johannes Müller Argoviensis who gave it the name Caletia divaricatissima var. orbicularis in Flora: oder Allgemeine Botanischer Zeitung from specimens collected by Ferdinand von Mueller.[5][6] In 2003 by David Halford and Rodney Henderson raised the variety to species status as Pseudanthus orbicularis in the journal Austrobaileya.[7] The specific epithet (orbicularis) means orbicular.[8]
Distribution and habitat
editPseudanthus orbicularis grows in rocky places on hills and ridges in shrubland, low woodland and shrubby open forest. It grows in disjunct populations on the Central Western Slopes and South Coast of New South Wales and scattered places, mainly in eastern Victoria. It is listed as "vulnerable" in Victoria, under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.[3][4]
References
edit- ^ "Pseudanthus orbicularis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ Halford, David A.; Henderson, Rodney J.F. (2003). "Studies in Euphorbiaceae A.L.Juss. sens. lat. 5. A revision of Pseudanthus Sieber ex Spreng. and Stachystemon Planch. (Oldfieldioideae Kohler & Webster, Caletieae Mull.Arg.)". Austrobaileya. 6 (3): 507–508. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ a b Herscovitch, Clare; Halford, David A.; Henderson, Rodney J.F. "Pseudanthus orbicularis". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ a b Jeanes, Jeff A.; Stajsic, Val. "Pseudanthus orbicularis". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Caletia divaricatissima var. orbicularis". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ Müller Argoviensis, Johannes (1864). "Neue Euphorbiaceen des Herbarium Hooker in Kew, auszugsweise vorläufig mitgetheilt aus dem manuscript für De Candolle's Prodromus". Flora: oder Allgemeine Botanischer Zeitung. 47 (31): 486. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ "Pseudanthus orbicularis". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 266. ISBN 9780958034180.