Lysiosepalum aromaticum

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Lysiosepalum aromaticum

Priority Two — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Lysiosepalum
Species:
L. aromaticum
Binomial name
Lysiosepalum aromaticum

Lysiosepalum aromaticum is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is thick, bushy shrub with a strong, aromatic scent, most parks covered with white, star-shaped hairs and red-tipped, club-shaped hairs, and has egg-shaped to broadly egg-shaped leaves and pinkish-purple flowers usually in groups of two to four.

Description[edit]

Lysiosepalum aromaticum is a thick, bushy shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 75 cm (30 in) and has a strong aromatic or peppery scent. Most part of the plant are covered with white, star-shaped hairs and red-tipped, club-shaped glandular hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped to broadly egg-shaped, 15–40 mm (0.59–1.57 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) wide on a petiole 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long, usually with stipules 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) long at the base. The flowers are pinkish-purple, borne in groups of two to four on a peduncle 9–20 mm (0.35–0.79 in) long with spoon-shaped bracts 3–7.5 mm (0.12–0.30 in) long at the base, each flower on a pedicel 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long. The five sepal lobes are elliptic, about 6 mm (0.24 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide, the petals tiny and bright red. Flowering occurs in October and November.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy[edit]

Lysiosepalum aromaticum was first formally described in 2001 by Carolyn F. Wilkins in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected in 1998.[2][5] The specific epithet (aromaticum) means "aromatic", referring to the spicy odour of this species.[2]

Distribution and habitat[edit]

This species of lysiosepalum is found on slopes and in moist areas near granite outcrops in a single population near Highbury in the Avon Wheatbelt IBRA bioregion in the south-west of Western Australia.[2][3][4]

Conservation status[edit]

Lysiosepalum aromaticum is listed as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[4] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lysiosepalum aromaticum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Wilkins, Carolyn F.; Chappill, Jennifer A. (2001). "A taxonomic revision of the Western Australian genus Lysiosepalum (Malvaceae: Lasiopetaleae)". Nuytsia. 13 (3): 584–585. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern Bushes of Australia; Thomasias & Allied Genera. Australia: A.P.S. Keiler Plains Inc. pp. 380–381. ISBN 9780646839301.
  4. ^ a b c "Lysiosepalum aromaticum". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ^ "Lysiosepalum aromaticum". APNI. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 21 November 2023.