Allocasuarina eriochlamys

Allocasuarina eriochlamys
Mature cone of A. eriochlamys subsp. grossa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Casuarinaceae
Genus: Allocasuarina
Species:
A. eriochlamys
Binomial name
Allocasuarina eriochlamys
(L.A.S.Johnson) L.A.S.Johnson[1]
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[1]
  • Allocasuarina campestris subsp. eriochlamys (L.A.S.Johnson) L.A.S.Johnson
  • Casuarina campestris subsp. eriochlamys L.A.S.Johnson

Allocasuarina eriochlamys is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is a dense, erect, monoecious or dioecious shrub that has more or less erect branchlets, its leaves reduced to scales in whorls of eight to ten, the mature fruiting cones 20–45 mm (0.79–1.77 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 5.0–10.5 mm (0.20–0.41 in) long.

Description

Allocasuarina eriochlamys is a dense, erect, monoecious or dioecious shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in). Its branchlets are more or less erect, up to 230 mm (9.1 in) long, the leaves reduced to scale-like teeth usually 0.3–1 mm (0.012–0.039 in) long, arranged in whorls of eight to ten around the branchlets. The sections of branchlet between the leaf whorls (the "articles") are mostly 5–18 mm (0.20–0.71 in) long and 0.5–1.1 mm (0.020–0.043 in) wide. Male flowers are arranged in spikes 10–35 mm (0.39–1.38 in) long, in whorls of 7 to 11 per centimetre (per 0.39 in.), the anthers 0.6–0.8 mm (0.024–0.031 in) long. Female cones are cylindrical on a peduncle 4–15 mm (0.16–0.59 in) long, and mature cones are 20–45 mm (0.79–1.77 in) long and 13–21 mm (0.51–0.83 in) in diameter containing black samaras 5.0–10.5 mm (0.20–0.41 in) long.[2][3]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1972 by Lawrie Johnson who gave it the name Casuarina campestris subsp. eriochlamys in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by John Thomas Jutson near Comet Vale in 1917.[4][5] In 1982 Johnson reclassified it as Allocasuarina campestris subsp. eriochlamys in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens[6] and in 1989 raised it to species status in the Flora of Australia.[7][8] The specific epithet (eriochlamys) means a woolly cloak", referring to the fruiting cones.[9]

In the same volume of Flora of Australia, Johnson described two subspecies of A. eriochlamys, and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

  • Allocasuarina eriochlamys (L.A.S.Johnson) L.A.S.Johnson subsp. eriochlamys[10] has articles 5–14 mm (0.20–0.55 in) long and 0.5–0.9 mm (0.020–0.035 in) wide, male spikes 10–34 mm (0.39–1.34 in) long, and mature cones 23–39 mm (0.91–1.54 in) long on a peduncle 4–13 mm (0.16–0.51 in) long.[11]
  • Allocasuarina eriochlamys subsp. grossa (L.A.S.Johnson) L.A.S.Johnson[12] has articles 9–18 mm (0.35–0.71 in) long and 0.8–1.1 mm (0.031–0.043 in) wide, male spikes 16–35 mm (0.63–1.38 in) long, and mature cones 20–38 mm (0.79–1.50 in) long on a peduncle 4–15 mm (0.16–0.59 in) long.[13]

Distribution and habitat

Subspecies eriochlamys grows in mallee woodland on stony slopes between Comet Vale and Kalgoorlie in the Coolgardie and Murchison bioregions[11][14] and subsp. grossa grows around granite outcrops, mainly near Norseman in the Coolgardie and Nullarbor bioregions of Western Australia.[13][15]

Conservation status

Subspecies eriochlamys is listed as "not threatened" by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[14] but subsp. grossa is listed as "Priority Three",[15] meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[16][15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Allocasuarina eriochlamys". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Allocasuarina eriochlamys". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Allocasuarina eriochlamys". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ^ "Casuarina campestris subsp. eriochlamys". APNI. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  5. ^ Johnson, Lawrence A.S. (1972). "New species and subspecies of Casuarina in Western Australia". Nuytsia. 1 (3): 264. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Allocasuarina campestris subsp. eriochlamys". APNI. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Allocasuarina eriochlamys". APNI. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  8. ^ Wilson, Karen L.; Johnson, Lawrence A.S. (1989). Flora of Australia (PDF). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. p. 195. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  9. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 193. ISBN 9780958034180.
  10. ^ "Allocasuarina eriochlamys subsp. eriochlamys". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Allocasuarina eriochlamys subsp. eriochlamys". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Allocasuarina eriochlamys subsp. grossa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Allocasuarina eriochlamys subsp. grossa". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Allocasuarina eriochlamys subsp. eriochlamys". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  15. ^ a b c "Allocasuarina eriochlamys subsp. grossa". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  16. ^ "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 26 May 2023.