Philotheca freyciana

Philotheca freyciana, commonly known as the Freycinet waxflower,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area of Tasmania. It is a small, erect shrub with intertwined, heart-shaped to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end at the base, and white, five-petalled flowers arranged singly in leaf axils.

Freycinet waxflower
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Philotheca
Species:
P. freyciana
Binomial name
Philotheca freyciana
Rozefelds[1]

Description

Philotheca freyciana is an erect shrub that grows to a height of 40 cm (16 in). The leaves are almost intertwined, sessile, leathery, heart-shaped to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 9–13 mm (0.35–0.51 in) long and 8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in) wide and glandular-warty on the lower surface. The flowers are borne singly in leaf axils, each flower on a pedicel 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. There are semi-circular sepals about 1 mm (0.039 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide and five broadly elliptical, white petals 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide. The ten stamens are flattened, 2.7–4 mm (0.11–0.16 in) long. Flowering occurs from April to May and from September to October. The fruit is about 4 mm (0.16 in) long.[3][4][5]

Taxonomy and naming

Philotheca freyciana was first formally described in 2001 by Andrew Rozefelds in the journal Muelleria from specimens collected on Mount Amos in Freycinet National Park.[4][6]

Distribution and habitat

This species of philotheca grows in cracks on granite rocks in dry, open scrubland and is only known from The Hazards in Freycinet National Park.[3][5]

Conservation status

This species is classified as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Tasmanian Government Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. The main threats to the species are drought stress, browsing by native animals, inappropriate fire regimes and illegal collection.[5][7]

References
  1. "Philotheca freyciana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  2. "SPRAT profile Philotheca freyciana — Freycinet Waxflower". Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  3. Wilson, Paul G.; Wilson, Annette J.G. (ed.) (2013). Flora of Australia (Volume 26). Canberra: Australian Biological Resources Study. p. 399. Retrieved 31 July 2020. {{cite book}}: |first2= has generic name (help)
  4. Rozefelds, Andrew C. (2001). "The Tasmanian species of Philotheca (Rutaceae). Muelleria" (PDF). Muelleria. 15: 23–24. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  5. "Philotheca freyciana" (PDF). Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  6. "Philotheca freyciana". APNI. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  7. "Approved Conservation Advice for Philotheca freyciana (Freycinet Waxflower)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
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