Styphelia kingiana 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, compact shrub with sharply pointed, egg-shaped leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged in clusters near the ends of branchlets.
| Styphelia kingiana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Near Ellenbrook, Western Australia | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Styphelia |
| Species: | S. kingiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Styphelia kingiana | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editStyphelia kingiana is an erect, compact shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.4–1 m (1 ft 4 in – 3 ft 3 in) and has densely hairy young branches. Its leaves are sharply-pointed, egg-shaped, 3.3–11.6 mm (0.13–0.46 in) long and 1.5–5.6 mm (0.059–0.220 in) wide. The flowers are borne in clusters near the ends of branchlets, extending past the leaves. There are egg-shaped, fleshy bracts 1.6–2 mm (0.063–0.079 in) long and 3 or 4 almost round bracteoles 1.5–6 mm (0.059–0.236 in) long at the base of the flowers. The sepals are egg-shaped, 1.5–6 mm (0.059–0.236 in) long and pale yellowish-green. The petals are joined at the base to form a yellowish-green tube 6.7–8.3 mm (0.26–0.33 in) long with white, spreading lobes 4.2–6 mm (0.17–0.24 in) long. Flowering occurs in August and September and the fruit is dry, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 3 mm (0.12 in) wide.[2][3]
Taxonomy
editStyphelia kingiana was first described in 1893 by Ferdinand von Mueller in The Victorian Naturalist from specimens collected near Lake Deborah (near Koolynobbing).[4][5] The specific epithet (kingiana) honours Henry John King.[5][6]
Distribution and habitat
editThis styphelia occurs in sandy soils in open heath or low open woodland in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Mallee and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[2][3]
Conservation status
editStyphelia kingiana is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b "Styphelia kingiana". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ a b Powell, Jocelyn M. (1993). "Croninia kingiana (Epacridaceae), a change in status for Leucopogon kingianus". Nuytsia. 9 (1): 125–130. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Styphelia kingiana". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Styphelia kingiana". APNI. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ a b von Mueller, Ferdinand (1893). "Descriptions of new Australian plants, with occasional other annotations". The Victorian Naturalist. 10 (5): 78–79. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 231. ISBN 9780958034180.