Guichenotia anota

Guichenotia anota

Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Guichenotia
Species:
G. anota
Binomial name
Guichenotia anota

Guichenotia anota is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of the southwest of Western Australia. It is a low, erect, compact shrub with hairy new growth, oblong to narrowly egg-shaped leaves, and pinkish-purple flowers.

Description

Guichenotia anota is an erect, compact shrub that typically grows to 10–40 cm (3.9–15.7 in) high and 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) wide, its new growth densely covered with white, star-shaped hairs, the hairs sometimes with a dark centre. The leaves are oblong to narrowly egg-shaped, the narrower end towards the base, 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide on a petiole 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long and lacking stipules. The lower surface of the leaves is densely covered with star-shaped hairs with a dark centre, giving it a scaly appearance. The flowers are borne singly or in groups of three or four, sometime more, on a peduncle 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long, with one or two bracts 2–5 mm (0.079–0.197 in) long and four bracteoles 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long at the base. The flowers are pendent, about 15 mm (0.59 in) in diameter with pinkish purple, petal-like sepals 5–8 mm (0.20–0.31 in) long and joined for three-quarters of their length. There are no petals or staminodes and the stamens are dark red. Flowering occurs from September to April and the fruit is a capsule 3.5–4.0 mm (0.14–0.16 in) in diameter.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Guichenotia anota was first formally described in 2009 by Carolyn F. Wilkins and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Ravensthorpe in 2003.[3][5] The specific epithet (anota) means "without an ear", referring to the absence of lobes on the leaves.[2][6]

Distribution and habitat

This species of guichenotia grows as an undershrub in partly shaded positions, in a restricted area near Ravensthorpe in the Esperance Plains bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[2][3][4]

Conservation status

Guichenotia anota is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[4] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations that are potentially at risk.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Guichenotia anota". Australian Plant Census. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 214–215. ISBN 9780646839301.
  3. ^ a b c Wilkins, Carolyn F. (2009). "Guichenotia anota and Guichenotia apetala (Lasiopetaleae: Byttneriaceae or Malvaceae s.l.) a new and a revised species endemic to Ravensthorpe Range, south-west Western Australia". Nuytsia. 19 (1): 183–186. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Guichenotia anota". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ^ "Guichenotia anota". APNI. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  6. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780958034180.
  7. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 19 May 2023.