Styphelia melaleucoides is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is an upright, spreading shrub with egg-shaped to almost round leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers bearded inside.
| Styphelia melaleucoides | |
|---|---|
| |
| In the Fitzgerald River National Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Styphelia |
| Species: | S. melaleucoides
|
| Binomial name | |
| Styphelia melaleucoides | |
Description
editStyphelia melaleucoides is an upright, spreading shrub that typically grows up to a height of 0.25–1.5 m (9.8 in – 4 ft 11.1 in) and sometimes has minutely, softly-hairy branches. Its leaves are egg-shaped to heart-shaped or almost round, 6.5–10.5 mm (0.26–0.41 in) long, flat or concave with a small hard point on the tip. The flowers are arranged singly or in pairs in leaf axils, on a short peduncle with very small bracts and broad bracteoles about 1 mm (0.039 in) long at the base. The sepals are 2.0–2.7 mm (0.079–0.106 in) long, the petals white and joined at the base to form a tube about 6.5 mm (0.26 in) long, with lobes as long as the petal tube, turned strongly back, and bearded inside.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editStyphelia melaleucoides was first formally described in 1864 by Ferdinand von Mueller in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[4] The specific epithet (melaleucoides) means "Melaleuca-like".[5]
Distribution
editThis styphelia grows on rises, undulating plains and breakaways in the Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of southern Western Australia.[3]
Conservation status
editStyphelia melaleucoides is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Styphelia melaleucoides". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Bentham, George (1868). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 4. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 149. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ a b c "Styphelia melaleucoides". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Styphelia melaleucoides". APNI. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 250. ISBN 9780958034180.