Melichrus sp. Gibberagee (Benwell 97239) APNI* Description: Erect (single stemmed) shrub, 0.5–1 m high, lignotuber not observed; branchlets hispid with hyaline hairs to 1 mm long.
Leaves, horizontally spreading (mostly erect at branch tips when dried), narrowly ovate, (5.5)10–16.5 mm long, (1.1)1.5–1.9 mm wide, acuminate, tip fine, , sometimes broken, c. 0.6 mm long, base cuneate; petiole c. 0.5–0.6 mm long; lamina usually flat, upper surface glabrous or with a few scattered hairs near margin, hairs up to 0.5 mm long, lower surface sparsely hispid on veins, hairs 0.2-(0.5) mm long, deeply grooved between veins and densely hispid, hairs <0.05 mm long, margin narrowly hyaline, with long silky hairs, hairs c. 0.5-(1) mm long.
Inflorescence a leafy conflorescence; flowers solitary in leaf axils, probably cream-coloured, c. 8 mm long, 3 mm diam. Bracts broad ovate to almost triangular or ovate, 1 x 0.9–2.8 x 2.2 mm long by wide, apex obtuse or broadly acute to mucronulate, glabrous or sparsely pubescent distally (usually more inner bracts), hairs c. 50 µm long; bracteoles ovate, c. 4.5 x 2.9 mm long and wide, sparsely pubescent distally; bracts and bracteoles usually with a few apical marginal hairs. Sepals ovate, c. 6–6.9 mm long, c. 2.5–2.9 mm wide, acute to acuminate, sericeous, sparsely pubescent distally, hairs usually 20-(60) µm long, apex with marginal hairs to 80 µm long. Corolla urceolate, inner surface papillose; tube c. 3 mm long; lobes c. 4.2 mm long, sparesly hairy, hairs c. 0.25 mm long. Filaments < 0.5 mm long; anthers c. 1.2 mm long, papillose. Ovary 4 locular.
Mature fruit not known.
Distribution and occurrence: Known only from Gibberagee State Forest. Open eucalyptus forest (Eucalyptus henryi) on red podzolic soil.
NSW subdivisions: NC
Threatened species: NSW BCA: Endangered; Commonwealth EPBC: Endangered
Text by E.A. Brown
Taxon concept: J.B. Williams
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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