Kunzea sericothrix is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a small shrub with linear to lance-shaped leaves. It is only known from a single collection, and the details of its flowers are provisional.
| Kunzea sericothrix | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Myrtales |
| Family: | Myrtaceae |
| Genus: | Kunzea |
| Species: | K. sericothrix
|
| Binomial name | |
| Kunzea sericothrix | |
Description
editKunzea sericothrix is a shrub that grows to a height of about 0.5 m (2 ft). The branches, leaves and floral cup are covered with long, silky hairs. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are linear to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base. They are 5–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide and taper to an indistinct petiole. The flowers are only known from the buds of a single collection and the description of them is provisional. The flowers are arranged in rounded groups of five to eight flowers on the ends of the branches and are surrounded by egg-shaped bracts and pairs of bracteoles. The sepals are triangular and about 0.7 mm (0.03 in) long and the floral cup is longer than the sepals. The petals are more or less round and about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long. There are about forty stamens in several whorls and are 0.9–1.8 mm (0.04–0.07 in) long. Flowering occurs in September.[2]
Taxonomy and naming
editKunzea sericothrix was first formally described in 2016 by Hellmut Toelken and the description was published in Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.[3][2] The specific epithet (sericothrix) is derived from the Ancient Greek words serikos meaning "silken" or "silky"[4]: 712 and thrix meaning "hair",[4]: 799 referring to the fine, long hairs covering the plant.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThe only collection of this kunzea was from a plant growing in a rocky watercourse in the Eungella National Park.[2]
Conservation status
editThis kunzea is listed as "endangered" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[5]
References
edit- ^ "Boronia sericothrix". APC. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d Toelken, Helmut R. (2016). "Revision of Kunzea (Myrtaceae). 2. Subgenera Angasomyrtus and Salisia from Western Australia and subgenera Kunzea and Niviferae (sections Platyphyllae and Pallidiflorae) from eastern Australia" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 29: 128. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ "Kunzea sericothrix". APNI. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
- ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
- ^ "Kunzea sercothrix". The State of Queensland Department of Environment and Science. 8 March 2022. Retrieved 19 April 2019.