Leucopogon inflexus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with more or less glabrous young branchlets, spirally arranged, erect, egg-shaped to more or less round leaves, and white, bell-shaped, densely bearded flowers.
| Leucopogon inflexus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Leucopogon |
| Species: | L. inflexus
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| Binomial name | |
| Leucopogon inflexus | |
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
Description edit
Leucopogon inflexus is an erect, open shrub that typically grows up to about 80 cm (31 in) high and 60 cm (24 in) wide, usually with a single stem at the base, its young branchlets more or less glabrous. The leaves are spirally arranged and point upwards, egg-shaped to more or less round, 1.2–3.3 mm (0.047–0.130 in) long, 1.2–3.8 mm (0.047–0.150 in) wide and more or less sessile or on a petiole up to 0.5 mm (0.020 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly or in groups of up to 3 on the ends of branches or short side branchlets, with leaf-like bracts and egg-shaped bracteoles 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and 0.9–1.1 mm (0.035–0.043 in) wide. The flowers are erect, the sepals narrowly egg-shaped, 2.2–3.0 mm (0.087–0.118 in) long and often tinged with purple, the petals white and joined at the base to form a bell-shaped tube 1.3–1.8 mm (0.051–0.071 in) long, the lobes 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long, densely bearded, and sometimes flushed with pink. Flowering in many months and the fruit is a narrowly elliptic drupe 2.2–2.7 mm (0.087–0.106 in) long.[2]
Taxonomy edit
Leucopogon inflexus was first formally described in 2016 by Michael Hislop in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Eneabba in 2006.[2][3] The specific epithet (inflexus) means "bent backwards", referring to the leaf tips of dried specimens.[2]
Distribution and habitat edit
This leucopogon grows in heath and low woodland between Dongara, Eneabba and the Arrino district in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[2][4]
Conservation status edit
Leucopogon inflexus is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[4]
References edit
- ^ "Leucopogon inflexus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d Hislop, Michael (2016). "New species of Leucopogon s. str. (Ericaceae: Epacridoideae: Styphelieae) from the Geraldton Sandplains" (PDF). Nuytsia. 27 (1): 228–231. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ "Leucopogon inflexus". APNI. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
- ^ a b "Leucopogon inflexus". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.