Micromyrtus grandis

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Micromyrtus grandis
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Micromyrtus
Species:
M. grandis
Binomial name
Micromyrtus grandis
J.T.Hunter

Micromyrtus grandis, the Severn River heath-myrtle, is a shrub in the myrtle family. It is found exclusively in the Severn River Nature Preserve and a property next to it, located around 60 km north-west of Glen Innes (Australia). It grows up to 1–4 metres tall, making it the largest plant in the genus Micromyrtus. The Severn River heath-myrtle is characterized by its fruit, which is 5-ribbed, and its broader leaves when compared to other nearby flora.

Taxonomy and naming[]

John T. Hunter described Micromyrtus grandis in 1996, after coming across a colony of Micromyrtus on a porphyritic ridge that did not correspond to any known species. He gave it the species name grandis as it was the largest species in the genus.[1]

Description[]

Micromyrtus grandis grows as a shrub with an erect habit, reaching 1–4 metres tall.[2] The orange bark is stringy and shed in ribbons, which frequently curl.[3] The tiny leaves are 0.5 to 4 mm long by 0.5 to 1.5 mm wide. When held up to the light, their oil dots can be clearly seen in the leaf blade. The minuscule[clarification needed] flowers appear over winter and spring (July to September).[2]

Distribution and habitat[]

Micromyrtus grandis is found along one long ridge at an altitude of 600 to 750 m in the Severn River Nature Preserve and adjoining private farmland.[1] It grows in exposed locations in heath and open woodland, associated with such species as narrow-leaved ironbark (Eucalyptus crebra), stringybark she-oak (Allocasuarina inophloia), Acacia pubifolia, Johnson's grasstree (Xanthorrhoea johnsonii), and heath species Leptospermum novae-angliae, Micromyrtus sessilis and .[2]

It is gazetted as endangered by both New South Wales and Federal governments.[2]

Cultivation[]

Micromyrtus grandis has been cultivated at the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra since 1998, proving hardy and easy to grow, and can be propagated by seed or cutting.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b Hunter, John T.; Quinn, Francis C.; Bruhl, Jeremy J. (1996). "Micromyrtus grandis (Myrtaceae), a new species from New South Wales". Telopea. 7 (1): 77–81.
  2. ^ a b c d "Severn River Heath-myrtle". New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage. 26 August 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  3. ^ a b Jalaluddin, Susan (2012). "Micromyrtus grandis". Information about Australia's Flora: Growing Native Plants. Australian National Botanic Gardens and Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
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