Thryptomene longifolia

Thryptomene longifolia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Thryptomene
Species:	T. longifolia
Binomial name
Thryptomene longifolia J.W.Green[1]

Thryptomene longifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to inland areas of South Australia. It is a shrub with more or less needle-shaped leaves and pink flowers with five to eight petals and five to eight stamens.

Description

Thryptomene longifolia is shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in). Its leaves are more or less cylindrical, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long with a hooked tip, on a petiole about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The flowers are scattered along the branchlets singly or in groups of up to three on a peduncle about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The floral cup has five longitudinal ridges and the sepals are more or less round, pink, and about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The petals are also pink, elliptical, about the same length as the sepals and there are five to eight stamens. Flowering occurs around May.[2]

Taxonomy

Thryptomene longifolia was first formally described in 1986 by John Green in the Flora of South Australia from specimens collected by T.R. Lothian near Tallaringa Well in 1967.[3] The specific epithet (longifolia) means "long-leaved".[4]

Distribution and habitat

This thryptomene grows on red sand dunes in the north of South Australia.[2]

References

1. "Thryptomene longifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
2. "Thryptomene longifolia". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
3. "Thryptomene longifolia". APNI. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
4. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 242. ISBN 9780958034180.