Seringia saxatilis

Seringia saxatilis, commonly known as gorge fire-bush,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family and is endemic to Kalbarri National Park in Western Australia. It is a sprawling, open shrub with hairy young stems, oblong to broadly elliptic leaves and purple flowers arranged in groups of 3 to 6.

Seringia saxatilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Seringia
Species:
S. saxatilis
Binomial name
Seringia saxatilis
Synonyms[1]
  • Keraudrenia saxatilis C.F.Wilkins MS
  • Keraudrenia hermanniifolia auct. non J.Gay: Grieve, B.J. (1998)

Description

Seringia saxatilis is a sprawling, open shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.4–1 m (1 ft 4 in – 3 ft 3 in), about 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide, and has hairy stems. The leaves are oblong to broadly elliptic, mostly 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide on a petiole up to 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long with stipules up to 2 mm (0.079 in) long at the base. The leaves are lobed, crinkled and undulating, with deeply impressed veins on the upper surface. The flowers are arranged in a cyme with 3 to 6 flowers on a peduncle 4–9 mm (0.16–0.35 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long. The flowers are 15 mm (0.59 in) wide and purple with petal-like sepals joined at the base to form a tube with lobes 75% the length of the tube. Petals are absent and the stamens have yellow filaments, and dark coloured anthers. Flowering occurs from July to October.[2][3]

Taxonomy

In 1999, Carolyn F. Wilkins described Seringia saxatilis in the journal Australian Systematic Botany from specimens collected in Kalbarri National Park in 2010.[4] The specific epithet (saxatilis) means "dwelling among rocks".[5]

Distribution and habitat

This species of seringia is only known from the Kalbarri area where it grows among sandstone boulders in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregions of Western Australia.[2][3]

Conservation status

Seringia saxatilis is listed as "Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions,[2] meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.[6]

References
  1. "Seringia saxatilis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  2. "Seringia saxatilis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern Bushes of Australia; Thomasias & Allied Genera. Australia: A.P.S. Keiler Plains Inc. pp. 422–423. ISBN 9780646839301.
  4. "Seringia saxatilis". APNI. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  5. William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 487.
  6. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
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