Johnsonia acaulis

Johnsonia acaulis
In Cape Le Grand National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Hemerocallidoideae
Genus: Johnsonia
Species:
J. acaulis
Binomial name
Johnsonia acaulis

Johnsonia acaulis is a plant in the family Asphodelaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rhizomatous, tufted, or grass-like perennial with white, pink or green flowers.

Description

Johnsonia acaulis is a rhizomatous, tufted, perennial herb with grass-like leaves 55–165 mm (2.2–6.5 in) long. The flowering scape is red or green, with floral bracts 6.5–11.5 mm (0.26–0.45 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) wide. The perianth is 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long and white, pink or green, and the sepals and wider than the petals. The anthers and the style are about 2 mm (0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to December and the fruit is a capsule 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Johnsonia acaulis was first described in 1846 by Stephan Endlicher in Lehmann's "Plantae Preissianae".[4][5] The specific epithet acaulis means "without a stem".[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species occurs between Israelite Bay, Lake Grace and Perth in the Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions of Western Australia. It grows in white, grey, or lateritic sand.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Johnsonia acaulis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Johnsonia acaulis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ^ Keighery, Greg. "Johnsonia acaulis". Flora of Australia. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Johnsonia acaulis Lindl". APNI. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  5. ^ Endlicher, Stephan F.L. (1846). Lehmann, Johann G.C. (ed.). "Aphyllantheae". Plantae Preissianae. 2 (1): 41. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  6. ^ William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 362.