Leionema ambiens

Leionema ambiens is a rare shrub growing in the Guyra district of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It has long stem clasping leaves and heads of white flowers in spring and early summer.

Leionema ambiens
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Leionema
Species:
L. ambiens
Binomial name
Leionema ambiens
Synonyms
  • Eriostemon ambiens F.Muell.
  • Phebalium ambiens (F.Muell.) Maiden & Betche[2]

Description

Leionema ambiens is a small shrub to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) high with smooth, mostly needle-shaped stems. The flat leaves may be elliptic, egg-shaped or a wide oblong, 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) long and 25–40 cm (9.8–15.7 in) wide, apex either pointed or rounded, stem-clasping, obvious midrib and margins slightly toothed. The inflorescence is a terminal cluster of 20–200 white flowers, petals about 4.5 mm (0.18 in) long on an angled pedicel. The seed pod is more or less upright, about 3 mm (0.12 in) long with a small beak.Flowering occurs from spring to early summer.[3]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described in 1868 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Eriostemon ambiens and the description was published in Fragmenta Phytogrphiae Australiae.[4][5] In 1998 Paul G. Wilson changed the name to Leionema ambiens and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia.[6][7] The specific epithet (ambiens) is derived from Latin meaning "going around" or "surround".[8]

Distribution and habitat

This species has a restricted distribution, only found in the Guyra district of northern New South Wales growing in heath amongst granite boulders. It also grows in Queensland.[3]

References
  1. "Leionema ambiens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  2. "Leionema ambiens". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  3. Weston, P.J; Harden, G.J. "Leionema ambiens". PlantNET-Online Flora of NSW. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  4. "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  5. "Eriostemon ambiens". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  6. Wilson, Paul G. (1998). "New species and nomenclatural changes in Phebalium and related genera (Rutaceae)". 12 (2): 271. Retrieved 18 April 2020. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "Leionema ambiens". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  8. William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 367.
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