Calytrix longiflora

Calytrix longiflora
In the ANBG
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Calytrix
Species:	C. longiflora
Binomial name
Calytrix longiflora (F.Muell.) Benth.[1]

Calytrix longiflora, commonly known as pink fringe myrtle,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with egg-shaped to narrowly lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and pink to mauve flowers with about 35 to 65 yellowish stamens in several rows.

Description

Calytrix longiflora is a mostly glabrous shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in). Its leaves are egg-shaped to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, sometimes elliptic or linear, 1.25–5.5 mm (0.049–0.217 in) long and 0.75–1.75 mm (0.030–0.069 in) wide on a petiole 0.25–1 mm (0.0098–0.0394 in) long. There are stipules up to 0.4 mm (0.016 in) long at the base of the petiole. The flowers are borne on a peduncle 4.0–5.5 mm (0.16–0.22 in) long with more or less round to egg-shaped lobes with the narrower end towards the base, 1.75–2.5 mm (0.069–0.098 in) long. The floral tube is free from the style, 7–17 mm (0.28–0.67 in) long and has 10 ribs. The sepals are fused at the base, with more or less round to broadly elliptic lobes 2.25–3.5 mm (0.089–0.138 in) long and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) wide, with an awn up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long. The petals are pink to mauve, whitish near the base, narrowly elliptic, 9.0–10.5 mm (0.35–0.41 in) long and 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.138 in) wide, and there are about 35 to 65 yellowish stamens in several rows. Flowering occurs from January to November, usually in January and February and from September to November.[3][4]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1858 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Calycothrix longiflora in his Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected by Tomas Mitchell.[5][6] In 1867, George Bentham transferred the species to Calytrix as C. longiflora in his Flora Australiensis.[7][8] The specific epithet (longiflora) means 'long-flowered'.[9]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Calytrix grows in ironbark-Triodia vegetation on sand dunes from the Springsure-Tambo district in Queensland to the Yantabulla-Bourke district in New South Wales.[3]

Conservation status

Calytrix longiflora is listed as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[2]

References

1. "Calytrix longiflora". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
2. "Species profile—Calytrix longiflora (pink fringe myrtle)". Queensland Government Department of Education and Science. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
3. Craven, Lyndley (1987). "A taxonomic revision of Calytrix Labill. (Myrtaceae)". Brunonia: 74–75.
4. Wilson, Peter G. "Calytrix longiflora". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
5. "Calycothrix longiflora". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
6. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1858). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
7. "Calytrix longiflora". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
8. Bentham, George (1867). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 3. London: Lovell Reeves & Co. pp. 49–50. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
9. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 242. ISBN 9780958034180.