Synaphea sparsiflora
| Synaphea sparsiflora | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Synaphea |
| Species: | S. sparsiflora |
| Binomial name | |
| Synaphea sparsiflora | |
Synaphea sparsiflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is only known from a few locations in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with hairy branchlets, wavy pinnatipartite leaves, the lowest leaves also pinnatipartite, and spikes of yellow flowers.
Description
Synaphea sparsiflora is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.6–1 m (2 ft 0 in – 3 ft 3 in) with hairy branchlets, and stems up to 25 cm (9.8 in) long. The leaves are pinnatipartite, 50–90 mm (2.0–3.5 in) long and 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in) wide on a petiole 50–100 mm (2.0–3.9 in) long, the lowest pair of lobes also pinnatipartite. The flowers are yellow and widely spaced on spikes up to 50–120 mm (2.0–4.7 in) long on a branched peduncle 80–150 mm (3.1–5.9 in) long. The bracts are 2.5–3.0 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long and covered with soft hairs. The perianth is ascending and opens moderately widely, the lower half covered with soft hairs pressed against the surface. The upper tepal is 5.8–7 mm (0.23–0.28 in) long and 2.3–2.6 mm (0.091–0.102 in) wide and gently convex, the lower tepal 4.6–5.5 mm (0.18–0.22 in) long. The stigma is broadly egg-shaped and shallowly notched, more or less flat, 1.1 mm (0.043 in) long and wide and the ovary is covered with silky hairs. Flowering occurs in August and September, and the fruit is elliptic, 7 mm (0.28 in) long and hairy.[2][3]
Taxonomy
Synaphea sparsiflora was first formally described in 1995 by Alex George in the Flora of Australia from specimens he found on First North Road, just north of the Three Springs-Eneabba Road in 1993.[2][4] The specific epithet (sparsiflora) means 'scattered-flowered'.[5]
Distribution and habitat
This species of synaphea is only known from near Eneabba in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion and west of Gillingarra in the Swan Coastal Plain bioregion where it grows in sandy loam in kwongan in the south-west of Western Australia.[2][3]
Conservation status
Synaphea recurva is listed as 'Priority Two' by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[3] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[6]
References
- ↑ "Synaphea sparsiflora". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 George, Alex S. "Synaphea sparsiflora". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Synaphea sparsiflora". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ↑ "Synaphea sparsiflora". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 321. ISBN 9780645629538.
- ↑ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 9 June 2026.