Brachyloma delbi

Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Brachyloma
Species:
B. delbi
Binomial name
Brachyloma delbi
Cranfield[1]

Brachyloma delbi is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with linear leaves and pink to red, tube-shaped flowers.

Description

Brachyloma delbi is an erect, open shrub that usually grows to a height of 1.0–1.5 m (3 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) and has sparsely hairy branchlets. The leaves are linear, 4.0–8.0 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long, and 0.75–1.0 mm (0.030–0.039 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long, with the edges rolled under and a small hard point on the tip. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a peduncle 0.75–1.0 mm (0.030–0.039 in) long with 2 sessile bracts 0.9–1.0 mm (0.035–0.039 in) long at the base. The sepals are egg-shaped, 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long and 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) wide. The petals are joined to form an urn-shaped tube 3.0–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long with broadly triangular lobes about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. Flowering occurs from April to May and the fruit is a spherical drupe 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) in diameter.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Brachyloma delbi was first formally described in 2005 by Raymond Cranfield in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Kulin in 1995.[2][4] The specific epithet (delbi) is a Noongar word meaning "leaf", referring to the characteristic leaves of this species.[2]

Distribution

This species of shrub grows in open woodland and is only known from the type location in the Mallee bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[3]

Conservation status

Brachyloma delbi is listed as "Threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[3] meaning that it is in danger of extinction.[5]

References

  1. "Brachyloma delbi". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Cranfield, Raymond J. (2005). "Two new species of Brachyloma (Epacridaceae) from the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia". Nuytsia. 15 (3): 333–334. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Brachyloma delbi". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. "Brachyloma delbi". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  5. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
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