Sclerolaena birchii
| Sclerolaena birchii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Sclerolaena |
| Species: | S. birchii
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| Binomial name | |
| Sclerolaena birchii | |
Sclerolaena birchii, commonly known as galvanised burr, is a perennial shrub native to inland Australia.[1]
Description
[edit]Sclerolaena birchii grows to around 1 m in height and diameter,[2] branches are hairy with obovate to narrow-obovate leaves that can grow from 5- 15mm long.[3][4] Leaves are shortly petiolate, flat and long.[4] Fruiting perianth is hard, occurs obliquely, elliptic, 2-3mm in length,[3] usually 5 spines present, divergent, the 3 abaxial spines are longer (6-15mm), the 2 adaxial spines usually 1-2mm long.[5] Persistent hair bases cause the base of the spine creates a rough texture; seed is erect.[3]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]
Sclerolaena birchii can be found as isolated individuals or dense stands, where there are coarse sandy soils, or duplex soils.[6] The galvanised burr often occurs near a few vegetation communities such as: bimble box, mulga and cypress pine.[6] Sclerolaena birchii is distributed throughout western NSW and has been found in VIC and QLD.[5] Sclerolaena birchii is considered to be near threatened in the Northern Territory, least concern in Queensland, and of least concern in Victoria.[7]
Taxonomy
[edit]Sclerolaena birchii is a member of Caryophyllales order which is estimated to contain around 12,500 species.[8] A number of Caryophyllales species are characterised by extreme drought and cold tolerance.[8] In some literature Sclerolaena birchii is classified under the Chenopodiaceae family and in other literature it is classified under the Amaranthaceae family.[9] The relationship between the Chenopodiaceae and Amaranthaceae remains unclear.[10] The plant belongs to the genus Sclerolaena, which comprises low shrubs and herbs and has around 66 species that occur in semi-arid regions of Australia.[11]
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Sclerolaena birchii branch -
Sclerolaena birchii shrub
References
[edit]- ^ Jacobs, S. W. L. (1999). "Sclerolaena birchii". PlantNet - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ Brooke, G.; McGarva, L. (1998). The Glove Box Guide to Plants of the NSW Rangelands. NSW Agriculture.
- ^ a b c Jessop, J.P.; Toelken, H.R. (1986). Flora of South Australia. Part 1 Lycopodiaceae - Rosaceae. Adelaide: South Australian Government Printing Division.
- ^ a b Harden, G.J. (1990). Flora of New South Wales (Revised edition, Volume 1 ed.). University of New South Wales Press Ltd.
- ^ a b Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (2018). "Sclerolaena birchii". VICFLORA.
- ^ a b Cunningham, G.M.; Mulham, W.E.; Milthorpe, P.L.; Leigh, J.H. (1981). Plants of Western New South Wales. N.S.W. Government Printing Office.
- ^ Atlas of living Australia (n.d.). "Sclerolaena birchii (F.Muell.) Domin". Atlas of living Australia. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
- ^ a b Walker, J.F.; et al. (2018). "From cacti to carnivores: Improved phylotranscriptomic sampling and hierarchical homology inference provide further insight into the evolution of Caryophyllales". American Journal of Botany. 105 (3): 446–462. doi:10.1002/ajb2.1069. hdl:2027.42/147863. PMID 29738076. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022 – via Botanical Society of America.
- ^ Wilson, P.G. (2016). "CHENOPODIACEAE". Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ Kadereit, G.; Borsch, T.; Weising, K.; Freitag, H. (2013). "Phylogeny of Amaranthaceae and Chenopodiaceae and the Evolution of C4 Photosynethsis". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 164 (6): 959–986. doi:10.1086/378649. S2CID 83564261. Archived from the original on 15 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (2018). "Sclerolaena". VICFLORA. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
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