Pomaderris tropica

Pomaderris tropica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Genus:	Pomaderris
Species:	P. tropica
Binomial name
Pomaderris tropica N.G.Walsh[1]

Pomaderris tropica is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to Walshs Pyramid in north Queensland. It is a shrub with softly-hairy branchlets, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves and clusters of white to cream-coloured flowers.

Description

Pomaderris tropica is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 2–3 m (6 ft 7 in – 9 ft 10 in), its branchlets covered with soft, star-shaped hairs. The leaves are egg-shaped to elliptic, 24–84 mm (0.94–3.31 in) long and 14–33 mm (0.55–1.30 in) wide on a petiole 6–13 mm (0.24–0.51 in) long with narrow triangular stipules 4.5–5.5 mm (0.18–0.22 in) long at the base. The upper surface of the leaves is covered with velvety hairs and the lower surface densely covered with soft, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are borne in clusters at the ends of branchlets, 25–40 mm (0.98–1.57 in) long and 40–70 mm (1.6–2.8 in) wide, each flower on a pedicel 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long. The sepals are oblong, about 2 mm (0.079 in) long but there are no petals. Flowering occurs from August to November.[2]

Taxonomy

Pomaderris tropica was first formally described in 1951 by Norman Arthur Wakefield in The Victorian Naturalist from specimens collected by Hugo Flecker on Walshs Pyramid in 1938.[3][4] The specific epithet (tropica) means "tropical".[5]

Distribution and habitat

This pomaderris grows in narrow crevices between rocks on Walshs Pyramid in north Queensland.[2]

Conservation status

Pomaderris tropica is classified as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[6]

References

1. "Pomaderris tropica". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
2. Ross, Estelle M. (1990). "Pomaderris Labill. (Rhamnaceae) in Queensland, 1". Austrobaileya. 3 (2): 314–315. JSTOR 41738766. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
3. "Pomaderris tropica". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
4. Wakefield, Norman A. (1951). "New species of Pomaderris". The Victorian Naturalist. 68 (8): 142. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
5. William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 517.
6. "Species profile—Pomaderris tropica". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 22 April 2022.