Conospermum sphacelatum explained

Conospermum sphacelatum is a species of flowering plant of the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is an erect shrub with few branches, erect linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, hairy white flowers on the ends of branches, and white to cream-coloured nuts.

Description

Conospermum sphacelatum is an erect, sparsely-branched shrub that typically grows to a height of up to . Its leaves are linear to narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide. The flowers are arranged on the ends of branches or in panicles on a peduncle long and covered with silky to woolly hairs. There are egg-shaped to heart-shaped bracteoles long, wide and covered with silky hairs. The perianth is white with velvety or silky hairs, forming a tube long. The upper lip is D-shaped, long and wide, the lower lip joined for with oblong to broadly oblong lobes long and wide. The fruit is a nut long, about wide and covered with velvety white to cream-coloured hairs.[1] [2]

Taxonomy

Conospermum sphacelatum was first formally described in 1848 by William Jackson Hooker in Thomas Mitchell's the Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia[3] [4] The specific epithet (sphacelatum) means 'with brown or blackish speckling'.[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species of Conospermum grows in stony soils in the Leichhardt, Maranoa and Mitchell districts of Queensland.

Conservation status

Conospermum sphacelatum is listed as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bennett . Eleanor M. . Conospermum sphacelatum . Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra . 29 October 2024.
  2. Johnson . Lawrence A.S. . McGillivray . Donald J. . Conospermum Sm. (Proteaceae) in Eastern Australia. . Telopea . 1975 . 1 . 64–65 . 29 October 2024.
  3. Web site: Conospermum sphacelatum . Australian Plant Name Index . 29 October 2024.
  4. Hooker . William J. . Mitchell . Thomas . Plants collected . Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia . 1848 . 342 . 29 October 2024.
  5. Book: Stearn . William T. . Botanical Latin . 1992 . Timber Press . Portland, Oregon . 499.
  6. Web site: Species profile—Conospermum sphacelatum . Queensland Government Department of Education and Science . 29 October 2024.