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Brachyloma delbi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brachyloma delbi

Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Brachyloma
Species:
B. delbi
Binomial name
Brachyloma delbi

Brachyloma delbi is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with linear leaves and pink to red, tube-shaped flowers.

Description

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Brachyloma delbi is an erect, open shrub that usually grows to a height of 1.0–1.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) and has sparsely hairy branchlets. The leaves are linear, 4.0–8.0 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long, and 0.75–1.0 mm (0.030–0.039 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long, with the edges rolled under and a small hard point on the tip. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a peduncle 0.75–1.0 mm (0.030–0.039 in) long with 2 sessile bracts 0.9–1.0 mm (0.035–0.039 in) long at the base. The sepals are egg-shaped, 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) wide. The petals are joined to form an urn-shaped tube 3.0–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long with broadly triangular lobes about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. Flowering occurs from April to May and the fruit is a spherical drupe 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) in diameter.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

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Brachyloma delbi was first formally described in 2005 by Raymond Cranfield in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Kulin in 1995.[2][4] The specific epithet (delbi) is a Noongar word meaning "leaf", referring to the characteristic leaves of this species.[2]

Distribution

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This species of shrub grows in open woodland and is only known from the type location in the Mallee bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[3]

Conservation status

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Brachyloma delbi is listed as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[3] meaning that it is in danger of extinction.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Brachyloma delbi". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Cranfield, Raymond J. (2005). "Two new species of Brachyloma (Epacridaceae) from the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia". Nuytsia. 15 (3): 333–334. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Brachyloma delbi". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ^ "Brachyloma delbi". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 19 September 2023.