Pomaderris elachophylla

Lacy pomaderris
Pomaderris elachophylla
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Genus:	Pomaderris
Species:	P. elachophylla
Binomial name
Pomaderris elachophylla F.Muell.[1]

Pomaderris elachophylla, commonly known as lacy pomaderris, small leaf pomaderris[2] or small-leaf dogwood,[3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a slender shrub with densely hairy branchlets, egg-shaped leaves, and cream-coloured flowers arranged singly or in clusters in leaf axils.

Description

Pomaderris elachophylla is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–3.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 11 ft 6 in), its branchlets densely covered with fine, rust-coloured, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, mostly 2–10 mm (0.079–0.394 in) long and 1.5–5 mm (0.059–0.197 in) wide with stipules about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long at the base but that fall off as the leaf develops. The upper surface of the leaves is glabrous and the lower surface densely covered with whitish and sometimes rust-coloured, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are cream-coloured and hairy, borne singly or in small cluster in leaf axils, each flower on a pedicel 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) long. The floral cup is 0.1–0.2 mm (0.0039–0.0079 in) long, the sepals 1.4–1.6 mm (0.055–0.063 in) long and there are no petals. Flowering occurs from November to December and the fruit is a hairy capsule.[2][4][5]

Taxonomy

Pomaderris elachophylla was first formally described in 1861 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[6] The specific epithet (elachophylla) means "small, short-leaved".[7]

Distribution and habitat

Lacy pomaderris grows in tall, damp forest in gullies and near creeks from south-east of Bombala in new South Wales, from near Portland to the Cobberas Range in Victoria and in scattered places in Tasmania.[2][4][8][9]

Conservation status

This pomaderris is listed as "endangered" in New South Wales, under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW). The main threats to the species include forestry operations, inappropriate fire regimes, grazing by domestic stock and maintenance of roadside reserves.[3][9]

References

1. "Pomaderris elachophylla". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
2. Harden, Gwen J. "Pomaderris elachophylla". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
3. "Pomaderris elachophylla'". Tasmanian Government Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
4. Walsh, Neville G. "Pomaderris elachophylla". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
5. Wood, Betty. "Pomaderris elachophylla". Lucid keys. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
6. "Pomaderris elachophylla". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
7. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 190. ISBN 9780958034180.
8. Jordan, Greg. "Pomaderris elachophylla". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
9. "Lacy pomaderris - profile". New South Wles Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 7 February 2022.