Leionema coxii

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Leionema coxii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Leionema
Species:
L. coxii
Binomial name
Leionema coxii

Leionema coxii is a shrub species that is endemic to southern New South Wales, Australia. It has an upright habit, dark green, narrow leaves and clusters of white flowers in spring.

Description[edit]

Leionema coxii is a pyramid-shaped shrub, 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) high, 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide, occasionally a small tree to 7–8 m (23–26 ft) high with stems that grow at an angle, smooth and glandular. The leaves are lance to narrowly-elliptic shaped, 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in) long, 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) wide, upper surface shiny, smooth, margins barely toothed, prominent midrib on lower surface and ending in a sharp point. The inflorescence is a corymb consisting of 10-30 flowers at the end of flattened more or less smooth branches. The yellowish-creamy calyx lobes are wide-triangular, smooth, petals about 5 mm (0.20 in) long and dotted with glands. The upright fruit about 5 mm (0.20 in) long with an angled beak.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming[edit]

The species was first formally described in 1884 by Ferdinand von Mueller who gave it the name Eriostemon coxii and the description was published in The Australasian Chemist and Druggist.[4] In 1998 Paul G. Wilson changed the name to Leionema coxii and the description was published in the journal Nuytsia.[5][6] The specific epithet (coxii) honours James Charles Cox a medical practitioner of Sydney for promoting "scientific objects in the neighbouring elder colony".[4]

Distribution and habitat[edit]

This species grows in forests, brushland, near water courses and ridges from Morton National Park to the Tuross River area, mostly in the Budawang Range in southern New South Wales.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Leionema coxii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Leionema coxii". PlantNET-NSW Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  3. ^ Wriggley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (2001). Australian Native Plants. Louise Egerton-Read New Holland. ISBN 1876334304.
  4. ^ a b "Eriostmeon coxii". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  5. ^ Wilson, Paul G. (1998). "New species and nomenclatural changes in Phebalium and related genera (Rutaceae)". 12 (2): 272. Retrieved 22 April 2020. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ "Leionema coxii". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 22 April 2020.