Darwinia leptantha

Darwinia leptantha
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Darwinia
Species:	D. leptantha
Binomial name
Darwinia leptantha B.G.Briggs[1]

Darwinia leptantha is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is an upright, small shrub with white flowers turning pink with age, triangular-shaped leaves and is endemic to New South Wales.

Description

Darwinia leptantha is an upright shrub 20–80 cm (7.9–31.5 in) high with smooth, flattened leaves 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) long. The slender tubular flowers are borne at the end of short erect stems in tight clusters of 2-8, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long, about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) in diameter, petals 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long, white when young turning pink with age and on a peduncle 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. The bracts are leaf-like 1–11 mm (0.039–0.433 in) long, bracteoles reddish to yellowish brown, 2–3.5 mm (0.079–0.138 in) long, style white, straight or curved and 4–6.5 mm (0.16–0.26 in) long. Flowering occurs from late autumn to spring.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Darwinia leptantha was first formally described in 1962 by Barbara Gillian Briggs and the description was published in Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium.[4] The specific epithet (leptantha) means "slender flowered".[5]

Distribution and habitat

This darwinia grows in coastal heath and sandy soils on the coast and ranges from Laurieton to the Clyde River of eastern New South Wales.[3]

References

1. "Darwinia leptantha". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
2. Fairley, Alan (2004). Seldom Seen Rare Plants of Greater Sydney. Sydney: Louise Egerton. p. 61. ISBN 1876334991.
3. Wilson, Peter G. "Darwinia leptantha". PlantNET-NSW flora online. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
4. "Darwinia leptantha". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
5. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 245. ISBN 9780958034180.