Conostephium marchantiorum | |
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Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Ericales |
Family: | Ericaceae |
Genus: | Conostephium |
Species: | C. marchantiorum
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Binomial name | |
Conostephium marchantiorum |
Conostephium marchantiorum is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with linear leaves clustered near the ends of branchlets, and pale green and pink, densely-bearded, tube-shaped flowers.
Conostephium marchantiorum is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) and has many branches, its leaves clustered near the ends of twigs. The leaves are linear, leathery, 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long and 0.9–1.6 mm (0.035–0.063 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long. The edges of the leaves are rolled under and the lower surface has several prominent longitudinal veins. The flowers are arranged singly in 2 to 4 leaf axils on each twig with small, egg-shaped bracts and several broader, overlapping bracteoles closely surrounding the flowers. The sepals are lance-shaped, 2.8–3.2 mm (0.11–0.13 in) long, the petals white and joined at the base to form a tube about 1.6 mm (0.063 in) long. The petal lobes are twice as long as the petal tube and densely bearded. Flowering has been observed in March, July and November. [2] [3]
Conostephium marchantiorum was first formally described in 1986 by Arne Strid in the journal Willdenowia from specimens he collected near Scaddan in 1983. [2] [4] The specific epithet (marchantiorum) honours Neville Graeme Marchant and his wife Denise. [2] [5]
This leucopogon grows on sand on plains, creeklines and the edges of salt lakes in the Esperance Plains and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia. [3]
Leucopogon marchantiorum is listed as " Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, [3] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat. [6]