Styphelia microcalyx, commonly known as native cranberry,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a much-branched, erect or diffuse shrub with linear or narrowly oblong leaves and red, tube-shaped flowers that are bearded inside.

Styphelia microcalyx
In the Porongurup National Park
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Styphelia
Species:
S. microcalyx
Binomial name
Styphelia microcalyx
Synonyms[1]

Astroloma microcalyx Sond.

Description

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Styphelia microcalyx is an erect or diffuse shrub that typically grows up to a height of 30–60 cm (12–24 in) and has many, minutely softly-hairy branches. Its leaves are linear to narrowly oblong, usually 6.5–8.7 mm (0.26–0.34 in) long, sometimes with a small hard point on the tip and sometimes minutely toothed. The flowers are red and nearly sessile with bracteoles less than 2 mm (0.079 in) long at the base. The sepals are 4.3–5.4 mm (0.17–0.21 in) long, the petals joined at the base to form a tube 8.5–11 mm (0.33–0.43 in) long, with erect lobes that are bearded inside.[3]

Taxonomy and naming

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This species was first formally described in 1845 by Otto Wilhelm Sonder who gave it the name Astroloma microcalyx in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae.[4] In 1867 Ferdinand von Mueller transferred the species to Styphelia as S. microcalyx in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[1] The specific epithet (microcalyx) means "small sepals".[5]

Distribution

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This styphelia grows in near-coastal areas of the Swan Coastal Plain bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[2]

Conservation status

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Styphelia melaleucoides is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Styphelia microcalyx (Sond.) F.Muell". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Styphelia microcalyx (Sond.) F.Muell". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ^ Bentham, George (1868). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 4. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 157. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Astroloma microcalyx". APNI. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  5. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 252. ISBN 9780958034180.