Brachyloma is a genus of about 16 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus Brachyloma are shrubs with more or less erect leaves and bisexual flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils, the 5 petals fused to form a cylindrical or bell-shaped tube, the stamens sometimes enclosed in the petal tube.

Brachyloma
Brachyloma ciliatum in Cox Scrub Conservation Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Subfamily: Epacridoideae
Tribe: Styphelieae
Genus: Brachyloma
Sond.[1]
Synonyms[1]

Lobopogon Schltdl.

Brachyloma depressum in Grampians National Park
Brachyloma preissii

Description

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Plant in the genus Brachyloma are erect or spreading shrubs with simple, sessile or shortly petiolate leaves with more or less parallel or spreading veins on the lower surface. The flowers are bisexual and usually arranged singly in leaf axils, each flower with a bract at the base and bracteoles grading to the size of the 5 sepals. The 5 petals are fused at the base to form a cylindrical to bulbous, bell-shaped tube with erect to curved-back lobes. The fruit is a drupe with a hard endocarp.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy

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The genus Brachyloma was first formally described in 1845 by Otto Wilhelm Sonder in Lehmnn's Plantae Preissianae and the first species he described (the type species) was Brachyloma preissii.[6][7]

Species list

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The following is a list of Brachyloma species accepted by the Australian Plant Census as of 10 September 2023:[8]

Distribution

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Species of Brachyloma occur in all Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory, but not the Northern Territory.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Brachyloma". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. ^ Albrecht, David E.; Ohlsen, Daniel. "Brachyloma". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. ^ Powell, Jocelyn M.; Makinson, Robert O. "Brachyloma". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Brachyloma". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. ^ "Brachyloma". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Brachyloma". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  7. ^ Sonder, Otto W. (1845). Lehmann, Johann G.C. (ed.). Plantae Preissianae. Vol. 1. pp. 304–305. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Brachyloma". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 September 2023.