Micromyrtus helmsii

Micromyrtus helmsii

Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Micromyrtus
Species:
M. helmsii
Binomial name
Micromyrtus helmsii
Synonyms[1]

Thryptomene helmsii F.Muell. & Tate

Micromyrtus helmsii is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Australia. It is a slender, erect or spreading shrub with overlapping, decussate, oblong leaves, and flowers with about 7 stamens, arranged singly in leaf axils.

Description

Micromyrtus helmsii is a slender or spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.9–1.5 m (2 ft 11 in – 4 ft 11 in) and has slender branchlets. Its leaves are overlapping, decussate, oblong, 1.5–3.5 mm (0.059–0.138 in) long and about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide and keeled with several conspicuous oil glands visible on the lower surface. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a peduncle up to 1.5 mm (0.059 in) long. The sepals are more or less round, 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long and 1 mm (0.039 in) wide and the petals are larger than the sepals and 1.5 mm (0.059 in) in diameter. There are about 7 stamens, the filaments about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long. Flowering has been recorded in September.[2][3]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1896 by Ferdinand von Mueller and Ralph Tate, who gave it the name Thriptomene helmsii in Transactions, proceedings and report, Royal Society of South Australia from specimens collected in the Great Victoria Desert.[4][5] In 1980, John Green transferred the species to the genus Micromyrtus as M. helmsii.[6] The specific epithet (helmsii) honours Richard Helms.[7]

Distribution

Micromyrtus helmsii is only known from the type location in inland Western Australia.[2][3]

Conservation status

This species of micromyrtus is listed as "Priority One" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[3] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Micromyrtus helmsii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Green, John W. (1980). "Thryptomene and Micromyrtus (Myrtaceae) in arid and semi-arid Australia". Nuytsia. 3 (2): 200. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Micromyrtus helmsii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ^ "Thriptomene helmsii". APNI. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  5. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand; Tate, Ralph (1896). "Botany. Phanerogams and Vascular Cryptogams". Transactions, proceedings and report, Royal Society of South Australia. 16 (3): 356. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  6. ^ "Micromyrtus helmsii". APNI. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  7. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 215. ISBN 9780958034180.
  8. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 27 November 2023.