Stenanthemum limitatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect or straggling shrub with sparsely hairy young stems, egg-shaped to fan-shaped leaves and greyish, softly-hairy heads of white or cream-coloured flowers.
| Stenanthemum limitatum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Stenanthemum |
| Species: | S. limitatum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Stenanthemum limitatum | |
Description
editStenanthemum limitatum is an erect or straggling shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in), its young stems sparsely covered with grey or rust-coloured, star-shaped hairs. Its leaves are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, to almost fan-shaped, mostly 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long, with narrowly triangular stipules 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long and joined together at the base. The end of the leaf is notched, the upper surface scaly or bristly-hairy and the lower surface glabrous or softly hairy. The flowers arranged in groups of 5 to 10, up to 10 mm (0.39 in) wide, white to cream-coloured, and sparsely to moderately covered with softly-hairy, greyish, star-shaped hairs. The floral tube is 2.5–3.0 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long and 0.8–1.5 mm (0.031–0.059 in) wide, the sepals 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long and the petals 0.7–1 mm (0.028–0.039 in) long. Flowering occurs in October and November, and the fruit is 2.5–2.8 mm (0.098–0.110 in) long.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editStenanthemum limitatum was first formally described in 1995 by Barbara Lynette Rye in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by Charles Gardner on Mount Lesueur in 1946.[2][4] The specific epithet (limitatum) means "enclosed within limits", referring to the restricted range of this species.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species grows in heath and shrubland on laterite near Mount Lesueur in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[2][3][5]
Conservation status
editStenanthemum limitatum is listed as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[5] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Stenanthemum limitatum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ a b c d Rye, Barbara L. (1995). "New and priority taxa in the genera Cryptandra and Stenanthemum (Rhamnaceae) of Western Australia". Nuytsia. 10 (2): 289–290. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ a b Kellerman, Jurgen; Thiele, Kevin R. Kodela, Phillip G. (ed.). "Stenanthemum limitatum". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ "Stenanthemum limitatum". APNI. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Stenanthemum limitatum". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 1 January 2023.