Leionema ellipticum

Leionema ellipticum is a shrub species that is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is a small shrub with smooth green leaves and creamy-white flowers in spring.

Leionema ellipticum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Leionema
Species:
L. ellipticum
Binomial name
Leionema ellipticum

Description

Leionema ellipticum is a small shrub to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high with smooth, glossy, more or less terete branchlets. The leaves are elliptic, tapering at the base, about 5 cm (2.0 in) long, 2 cm (0.79 in) wide, smooth, papery and rounded at the apex. The inflorescence is a clusters of flowers, each flower about 2 cm (0.79 in) long on a pedicel 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long and sporadically covered with minute, upright soft hairs. The sepals are shortly attached to the base of the flower, fleshy, triangular shaped, about 0.8 mm (0.031 in) long and bracteoles falling off early. The white petals are about 4.5 mm (0.18 in) long, narrow oval shape, smooth and prominently keeled. Flowering occurs from December to January. [2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Leionema ellipticum was first formally described by Paul G. Wilson in 1998 and the description was published in the Nuytsia.[3][4] The specific epithet (ellipticum) is derived from the Latin elipticus referring to the shape of the leaves.[3]

Distribution and habitat

This species has a restricted distribution found growing at a windy, mountainous location in north-east Queensland.[3]

References
  1. "Leionema ellipticum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  2. Wilson, Paul G. "Leionema ellipticum". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  3. "Nuytsia". Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  4. "Leionema ellipticum". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
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