Androcalva rosea, commonly known as Sandy Hollow commersonia,[1] is a small endangered shrub with pink flowers and prostrate trailing branches. It is only known from four locations in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
Description
Androcalva rosea is a small, mostly prostrate shrub 0.1–0.3 m (3.9 in – 11.8 in) high with branches up to 60 cm (24 in) long. The branches are thickly covered with star-shaped hairs, especially on new growth, later nearly hairless and surface becoming rounded. The leaves are narrowly egg-shaped or oblong, 24–70 mm (0.94–2.76 in) long, 8–17 mm (0.31–0.67 in) wide with star-shaped hairs on both sides with a petiole 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long. The leaf margins are scalloped and leaves rounded at the apex. The inflorescence consists of 1-3 pink flowers with five lobed petals on a stalk 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long that is densely covered with star-shaped hairs. The 5 pink calyx lobes are densely covered on the outer side with star-shaped hairs. The fruit are light green ageing to pale brown, globular shaped, 10–16 mm (0.39–0.63 in) in diameter and thickly covered with straight, stiff hairs 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long. The dark brown seed is 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to February.[1][3]
The species is only known from four areas all within an 8 kilometre radius of Sandy Hollow district of the upper Hunter Valley. It grows in scrubland and heath vegetation on poor sandy soils.[1]
^ abcd"Androcalva rosea". Species Profile & Threats Database. Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Water & Environment. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
^Wilkins, C.F.; Whitlock, B.A. (2011). "A new Australian genus, Androcalva, separated from Commersonia (Malvaceae s.l. or Byttneriaceae)". Australian Systematic Botany. 24 (5): 284. doi:10.1071/SB10032. ISSN1030-1887.
^William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 485.