Styphelia propinqua is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, rigid shrub with linear leaves and white tube-shaped flowers that are bearded inside.
| Styphelia propinqua | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Genus: | Styphelia |
| Species: | S. propinqua |
| Binomial name | |
| Styphelia propinqua | |
 | |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description
Styphelia propinqua is an erect, rigid shrub that typically grows to a height of 1.9–1.2 m (6 ft 3 in – 3 ft 11 in). Its leaves are linear, 12–24 mm (0.47–0.94 in) long with the edges curved downwards and an almost sharply-pointed tip. The flowers are usually borne in groups of 2 or 3, sometimes 3 or 4, in leaf axils on a short peduncle with small bracts and bracteoles less than half as long as the sepals. The sepals are about 3 mm (0.12 in) long and the petals are joined at the base, forming a tube shorter than the sepals but with lobes longer than the petal tube and strongly turned back. The fruit is almost spherical drupe 8.5 mm (0.33 in) long with a thick, hard endocarp.[2]
Taxonomy
This species was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown who gave it the name Leucopogon propinquus in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[3][4] It was transferred in 1824 to the genus Styphelia as S. propinqua by Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel.[1] The specific epithet (propinqua) means "near" or "resembling another species".[5]
Distribution
Styphelia propinqua is widespread in the Avon Wheatbelt,Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren bioregions of south-western Western Australia, and is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[6]