| Genus | Conospermum |
|---|---|
| Species | sphacelatum |
| Authority | Hook.[1] |
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 70 cm (28 in). Its leaves are linear to narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 50–100 mm long and 1–3 mm wide. The flowers are arranged on the ends of branches or in panicles on a peduncle 50–100 mm long and covered with silky to woolly hairs. There are egg-shaped to heart-shaped bracteoles 2.0–2.5 mm long, 3.5–3.75 mm wide and covered with silky hairs. The perianth is white with velvety or silky hairs, forming a tube 6–7 mm long. The upper lip is D-shaped, 2.75–3.0 mm long and 2.0–2.25 mm wide, the lower lip joined for 1.25–1.5 mm with oblong to broadly oblong lobes 2.5–2.75 mm long and 0.75–1.0 mm wide. The fruit is a nut 1.75–2.25 mm long, about 3 mm (0.12 in) wide and covered with velvety white to cream-coloured hairs.[2][3]
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[4][5] The specific epithet (sphacelatum) means 'with brown or blackish speckling'.[6]
Distribution and habitat
This species of Conospermum grows in stony soils in the Leichhardt, Maranoa and Mitchell districts of Queensland.[2][3]
Conservation status
Conospermum sphacelatum is listed as of "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[7]
References
- ^ "Conospermum sphacelatum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Bennett, Eleanor M. "Conospermum sphacelatum". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Johnson, Lawrence A.S. & McGillivray, Donald J. (1975). "Conospermum Sm. (Proteaceae) in Eastern Australia.". Telopea. 1: 64–65. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Conospermum sphacelatum". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Hooker, William J. (1848). "Plants collected". Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia. Mitchell, Thomas (ed.). Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Stearn, William T. (1992). Botanical Latin. Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 499.
- ^ "Species profile—Conospermum sphacelatum". Queensland Government Department of Education and Science. Retrieved 29 October 2024.