Micromyrtus blakelyi
In Muogamarra Nature Reserve
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Micromyrtus
Species:
M. blakelyi
Binomial name
Micromyrtus blakelyi

Micromyrtus blakelyi is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area near Sydney Australia. It is a low, cushion-like shrub with overlapping, keeled, linear leaves and small pink flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

Description

Micromyrtus blakelyi is a spreading, cushion-like shrub that typically grows to a height of 30–60 cm (12–24 in), its young branches densely woolly-hairy. The leaves are more or less sessile, overlap each other, linear, 2.5–4.5 mm (0.098–0.177 in) long, about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide and deeply keeled with a channelled upper surface. The flowers are more or less sessile and arranged singly in upper leaf axils, forming loose clusters near the ends of branches with bracteoles at the base. The sepals are 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and tinged with pink and the petals are pink, elliptic or egg-shaped and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long. There are five stamens, the filaments 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to October.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Taxonomy

Micromyrtus blakelyi was first formally described in 1983 by John Green in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by Erwin Gauba[note 1] between Hornsby and Gosford in 1958.[3][8] The specific epithet (blakelyi) honours William Blakely who discovered the species.[3]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in shallow depression in sandstone rocks in shrubby woodland near the Hawkesbury River, from Maroota to Cowan, north of Sydney.[7][6]

Conservation status

Micromyrtus blakelyi is listed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.[2][4][5] The main threats to the species include inappropriate fire regimes, habitat degradation and loss, and climate change.[4][5]

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "Micromyrtus blakelyi". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 Wilson, Peter G. "Micromyrtus blakelyi". Royal Botanic Garden Sdney. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Green, John W. (1983). "Taxonomy of Micromyrtus ciliata (Myrtaceae) and allied species including three new species of Micromyrtus from eastern Australia and lectotypification of M. minutiflora". Nuytsia. 4 (3): 327–329. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Approved Conservation Advice for Micromyrtus blakelyi" (PDF). Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Environment, Energy and Water. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Micromyrtus blakelyi - profile". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 Robinson, Les (1991). Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney. Kenthurst, N.S.W.: Kangaroo Press. p. 59. ISBN 0864171927.
  7. 1 2 Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2010). Native Plants of the Sydney Region. Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Jacana Books. p. 305. ISBN 9781741755718.
  8. ↑ "Micromyrtus blakelyi". APNI. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
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