Andersonia pinaster is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a slender, erect, pine-like shrub with twisted, narrowly egg-shaped to almost linear leaves and bright blue, tube-shaped flowers.
| Andersonia pinaster | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Andersonia |
| Species: | A. pinaster
|
| Binomial name | |
| Andersonia pinaster | |
Description
editAndersonia pinaster is a slender, erect, pine-like shrub, that typically grows up to 0.5–1 m (1 ft 8 in – 3 ft 3 in) high. The leaves are twisted, narrowly egg-shaped to almost linear, and 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long. The flowers are arranged on the ends of branches, hidden by leaf-like appendages until the flowers open, the sepals narrowly egg-shaped, 9.5–14 mm (0.37–0.55 in) long and green. The petals are bright blue and form a narrowly urn-shaped tube 9.5–14 mm (0.37–0.55 in) long with widely spreading lobes 5.8–8 mm (0.23–0.31 in) long with soft hairs that form a tuft at the end of the lobe. The stamens are 6.2–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long, the anthers white, 1.3–2.0 mm (0.051–0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs from July to September.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editAndersonia pinaster was first formally described in 2007 by Kristina L. Lemson in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Betty's Beach by Greg Keighery in 1986.[2][4] The specific epithet (pinaster) refers to the habit of mature plants, which resemble a small pine tree.[2]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species of Andersonia grows in low heath in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve in the Jarrah Forest bioregion of southern Western Australia.[3]
Conservation status
editAndersonia pinaster is listed as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3][5]
References
edit- ^ "Andersonia pinaster". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Lemson, Kristina L. (2007). "New species of Andersonia (Ericaceae) of conservation concern". Nuytsia. 17: 210–212. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ a b c "Andersonia pinaster". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Andersonia pinaster". APNI. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 29 November 2024.