Commersonia gilva
| Commersonia gilva | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Commersonia |
| Species: | C. gilva
|
| Binomial name | |
| Commersonia gilva | |
Commersonia gilva, commonly known as golden commersonia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with elliptic to oblong or egg-shaped leaves and yellow flowers.
Description
[edit]Commersonia gilva is an erect shrub that typically grows to 0.5–2 m (1 ft 8 in – 6 ft 7 in) high and wide, its new growth covered with golden, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are elliptic to oblong or egg-shaped, the narrower end towards the base, 2–7 mm (0.079–0.276 in) long and 1.0–2.5 mm (0.039–0.098 in) wide on a petiole up to 2 mm (0.079 in) long with egg-shaped stipules about 3 mm (0.12 in) long at the base. The edges of the leaves have irregular serrations, the upper surface is wrinkled and the lower surface is densely covered with golden, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are arranged in groups of 2 to 4 on a peduncle up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long with an egg-shaped bract 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long at the base. The flowers are 5 mm (0.20 in) wide with five yellow, petal-like sepals, five yellow petals with a narrow, white ligule, and a single, yellow staminode between each pair of stamens. Flowering occurs from May to November and the fruit is a woody, elliptic capsule 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter.[2]
Taxonomy and naming
[edit]Commersonia gilva was first formally described in 2011 by Carolyn F. Wilkins and the description was published in Australian Systematic Botany from specimens collected north of West River in 2003.[3] The specific epithet (gilva) means "dull yellow", referring to the flower colour and the hairs on the foliage.[2][4]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]Golden commersonia grows in low mallee and near creeks and drainage lines near Ravensthorpe, Ongerup and Fitzgerald River National Park in the Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[2][5]
Conservation status
[edit]Commersonia gilva is listed as "not threatened", by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Commersonia gilva". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ a b c d Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 184–185. ISBN 9780646839301.
- ^ "Commersonia GILVA". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 206. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ a b "Commersonia gilva". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.