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Darwinia micropetala

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Darwinia micropetala
Near Petherick, South Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Darwinia
Species:
D. micropetala
Binomial name
Darwinia micropetala
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[1]
  • Chamaelaucium micropetalum F.Muell. orth. var.
  • Chamelaucium micropetalum (F.Muell.) F.Muell.
  • Genethyllis micropetala F.Muell. orth. var.
  • Genetyllis micropetala F.Muell.

Darwinia micropetala, commonly known as small darwinia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a small, erect shrub with linear leaves, and heads of white to pink flowers.

Description

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Darwinia micropetala is an erect, wiry shrub that typically grows to a height of 30–50 cm (12–20 in). Its leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, linear, 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long, about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) wide and triangular to egg-shaped in cross-section. The flowers are borne in upper leaf axils in compound, corymbose heads with two to four flowers in each partial head. The bracteoles are white to pink and egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, and often fall off as the flowers open. The floral tube is 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long and about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide, the sepals and petals white to pink, egg-shaped and about 1 mm (0.039 in) long.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy

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Darwinia micropetala was first formally described in 1858 by Victorian Government Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller who named it Genetyllis micropetala in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected by "Bannier" on Kangaroo Island.[5][6] In 1865, George Bentham changed the name to Darwinia micropetala.[7]

Distribution and habitat

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Small darwinia grows in swales and near salt lakes in south-eastern South Australia and in the Little Desert area of western Victoria.[2][3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Darwinia micropetala". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b c Jeanes, Jeff A.; Stajsic, Val. "Darwinia micropetala". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Darwinia micropetala". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  4. ^ a b Wild Plants of Victoria (database). Viridans Biological Databases & Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2009.
  5. ^ "Genetyllis micropetala". APNI. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  6. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1858). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Vol. 1. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 12. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Darwinia micropetala". APNI. Retrieved 1 November 2022.