Micromyrtus sulphurea

Micromyrtus sulphurea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Micromyrtus
Species:	M. sulphurea
Binomial name
Micromyrtus sulphurea W.Fitzg.[1]

Micromyrtus sulphurea is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the inland of Western Australia. It is a commonly stunted or widely spreading shrub with narrowly oblong leaves pressed against the stem, and yellow flowers with 10 stamens.

Description

Micromyrtus sulphurea is a commonly stunted or widely-spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.5–1.5 m (1 ft 8 in – 4 ft 11 in). Its leaves are narrowly oblong and more or less pressed against the stem, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028 in) long on a petiole up to 0.3 mm (0.012 in) long with a 5 to 10 oil glands on the lower surface. The flowers are arranged in racemes in 2 to 10 upper leaf axils and are 3.5–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) in diameter on a peduncle mostly 0.8–1.5 mm (0.031–0.059 in) long. The floral tube is cylindrical and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long, the sepals widely spreading, 0.2–0.4 mm (0.0079–0.0157 in) long and 0.5–0.9 mm (0.020–0.035 in) wide and yellow. The petals are very broadly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, and sulfur-yellow, 1.2–1.4 mm (0.047–0.055 in) long. Flowering has mostly been recorded from August to October and the fruit is about 1.3–1.5 mm (0.051–0.059 in) long, containing a single seed.[2][3]

Taxonomy

Micromyrtus sulphurea was first formally described in 1904 by William Vincent Fitzgerald in the Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society from specimens he collected "½ mile west of Mount Magnet".[4][5] The specific epithet (sulphurea) means "like sulphur".[6]

Distribution and habitat

Micromyrtus sulphurea grows on sand dunes, sandplains on breakaways and granite outcrops from near Lake Rason to Queen Victoria Spring in the Gascoyne, Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions of inland Western Australia.[2][3]

Conservation status

This species of micromyrtus is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3]

References

1. "Micromyrtus sulphurea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
2. Rye, Barbara L. (2006). "A partial revision of the south-western Australian species of Micromyrtus (Myrtaceae: Chamelaucieae)" (PDF). Nuytsia. 16 (1): 141–142. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
3. "Micromyrtus sulphurea". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
4. "Micromyrtus stenocalyx". APNI. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
5. Fitzgerald, William Vincent (1904). "Additions to the West Australian Flora". Journal of the West Australian Natural History Society. 2 (1): 19. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
6. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 318. ISBN 9780958034180.