Regelia cymbifolia

Regelia cymbifolia is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a much branched shrub bearing tiny, wedge shaped leaves and clusters of deep pink to purple flowers on the ends of its branches in spring.

Regelia cymbifolia
R. cymbifolia growing near Woogenellup in the Stirling Range area

Priority Four — Rare Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Regelia
Species:
R. cymbifolia
Binomial name
Regelia cymbifolia
Synonyms

Melaleuca cyathifolia Craven & R.D.Edwards

Description

Regelia cymbifolia is much branched shrub which grows to a height of 2 m (7 ft). The leaves are arranged in alternating pairs (decussate), so that they make four rows along the stems. They are egg-shaped, usually less than 4 mm (0.16 in) long, curved with their lower half pressed against the stem and have a prominent mid-vein.[1]

The flowers are deep pink to purple and arranged in small clusters on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. There are 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 bundles of stamens. Flowering occurs between August and November and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules.[1][2]

R. cymbifolia growth habit
R. cymbifolia fruit

Taxonomy and naming

Regelia cymbifolia was first formally described in 1905 by Ludwig Diels in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie and tentatively given the name Beaufortia ? cymbifolia.[3][4] In 1964, Charles Gardner recognised the specimen as Regelia cymbifolia in Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia.[5] The specific epithet (cymbifolia) is from the Latin cymba meaning "a boat" and ‑folius meaning "leaved".[1][6]

Distribution and habitat

Regelia cymbifolia occurs in a restricted area near the Stirling Range in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions.[1] It grows in sand on undulating plains.[7]

Conservation

Regelia cymbifolia is classified as "Priority Four" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife[2] meaning that it is rare or near threatened.[8]

Use in horticulture

Regelia cymbifolia is not well known in cultivation but has been grown in Kings Park.[1]

References
  1. "Regelia cymbifolia". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  2. "Regelia cymbifolia". FloraBase. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. ""Beaufortia ? cymbifolia"". APNI. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  4. Diels, Friedrich Ludwig Emil; Pritzel, Ernst Georg (1905). "Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse". Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie. 35 (2): 431–432. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  5. "Regelia cymbifolia". APNI. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  6. Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 176. ISBN 9780958034180.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 400. ISBN 0646402439.
  8. "Conservation codes for Western Australian flora and fauna" (PDF). Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
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