Cryptandra congesta is a flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with narrowly egg-shaped or narrowly oblong leaves and clusters of white, tube-shaped flowers.
| Cryptandra congesta | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Cryptandra |
| Species: | C. congesta
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cryptandra congesta | |
Description
editCryptandra congesta is a spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 10–30 cm (3.9–11.8 in), its young stems covered with simple hairs. The leaves are narrowly egg-shaped to narrowly elliptic, 2.0–3.3 mm (0.079–0.130 in) long and 0.6–0.9 mm (0.024–0.035 in) wide, on a petiole 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028 in) long. The upper surface of the leaves is glabrous and there are minute teeth on the edges, especially near the tips. The flowers are borne in groups of 5 to 12 on the ends of short side-shoots in head-like groups 5.0–8.5 mm (0.20–0.33 in) wide. The floral tube is 1.3–1.7 mm (0.051–0.067 in) long and joined at the base for 0.4–0.5 mm (0.016–0.020 in). The sepals are 0.8–1.8 mm (0.031–0.071 in) long and densely hairy near the tip, but otherwise glabrous. Flowering occurs from April to October.[2]
Taxonomy and naming
editCryptandra congesta was first formally described in 1995 by Barbara Lynette Rye and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia.[2][3] The specific epithet (congesta ) means "crowded", referring to the flowers.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editThis cryptandra grows on granite, but is only known from a small area north of Denmark in the Jarrah Forest bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[5]
Conservation status
editThis cryptandra is listed as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[5] meaning that it is rare or near threatened.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Cryptandra congesta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ a b Rye, Barbara (1995). "New and priority taxa in the genera Cryptandra and Stenanthemum (Rhamnaceae) of Western Australia". Nuytsia. 10 (2): 265–267. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Cryptandra congesta". APNI. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 168. ISBN 9780958034180.
- ^ a b Paczkowska, Grazyna. "Cryptandra congesta". Florabase-the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 24 October 2022.