Sprengelia distichophylla

Sprengelia distichophylla is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a tufted shrub that typically grows to a height of 51–76 mm (2.0–3.0 in) with leaves about 2 mm (0.079 in) long, arranged in two closely overlapping rows, with the bases sheathing the stem. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils and are white, about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and bell-shaped. Flowering occurs in summer.[2][3][4]

Sprengelia distichophylla
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Sprengelia
Species:
S. distichophylla
Binomial name
Sprengelia distichophylla
Synonyms[1]

Sprengelia incarnata var. distichophylla Rodway

This species was first formally described in 1903 by Leonard Rodway who gave it the name Sprengelia incarnata var. distichophylla in The Tasmanian Flora.[5] In 1963, Winifred Curtis raised the variety to species status as Sprengelia distichophylla in The Student's Flora of Tasmania.[6] The specific epithet (distichophylla) means "having leaves in two rows".[7]

This epacris grows in exposed in alpine scrub on the western mountains of Tasmania.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Sprengelia distichophylla". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b Jordan, Greg. "Sprengelia distichophylla". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  3. ^ Curtis, Winifred M. "Sprengelia distichophylla". Alpine Garden Society. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  4. ^ Rodway, Leonard (1903). The Tasmanian Flora. Hobart: Tasmanian Government Printer. p. 124. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Sprengelia incarnata var. distichophylla". APNI. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  6. ^ "Sprengelia distichophylla". APNI. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  7. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 185. ISBN 9780958034180.