Asterolasia muricata

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lemon star-bush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Asterolasia
Species:
A. muricata
Binomial name
Asterolasia muricata
Synonyms[1]

Urocarpus muricatus Paul G.Wilson

Asterolasia muricata, commonly known as lemon star-bush,[2] is a species of small, slender, erect shrub that is endemic to South Australia. It has leathery leaves covered with rough points and with the edges rolled under, and yellow flowers arranged singly or in groups of up to three, with woolly star-shaped hairs on the back of the petals.

Description[edit]

Asterolasia muricata is a slender, erect shrub that typically grows to a height of about 1 m (3 ft 3 in). It has leathery leaves 7–15 mm (0.28–0.59 in) long on a short petiole with the edges rolled under. The upper surface of the leaves is covered with rough points but the lower surface is covered with woolly, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are sessile, arranged singly or in groups of two or three in leaf axils and on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a pedicel up to 0.5–8 mm (0.020–0.315 in) long. The petals are yellow, broadly elliptical, about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and covered with woolly, star-shaped hairs on the back. There are ten stamens[3][4]

Taxonomy[edit]

Asterolasia muricata was first described in 1912 by John McConnell Black who published the description in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia.[5][6]

Distribution and habitat[edit]

Asterolasia muricata grows in sandy heath and is found on Kangaroo Island and on the southern tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Asterolasia muricata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  2. ^ "Asterolasia muricata (Rutaceae) Lemon star-bush". South Australian Seed Conservation Service. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, Paul G. "Asterolasia muricata". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Asterolasia muricata". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Asterolasia muricata". APNI. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  6. ^ Black, John McConnell (1912). "Additions to the Flora of South Australia". Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia. 36: 22. Retrieved 28 June 2020.