Conospermum ephedroides
{{Short description|Species of Australian shrub in the family Proteaceae}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Speciesbox
|genus = Conospermum
|species = ephedroides
|image = Conospermum ephedroides.jpg
|image_caption = Near Lake King
|authority = Kippist ex Meisn.{{cite web |title=Conospermum ephedroides |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/76095 |publisher=Australian Plant Census |access-date=29 July 2024}}
}}
File:Conospermum ephedroides habit.jpg]]
Conospermum ephedroides is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted shrub with many stems, a few cylindrical leaves at the base of the plant, and sessile spikes of glabrous white, pale pink or blue, tube-shaped flowers and reddish-brown to orange nuts.
Description
Conospermum ephedroides is a tufted shrub that typically grows up to {{cvt|0.3–1|m}} tall and has many stems. There are a few cylindrical leaves {{cvt|40–180|mm}} long and {{cvt|0.6–1|mm}} wide at the base of the plant. The flowers are arranged in sessile spikes along leafless branches with egg-shaped, bluish-green bracteoles {{cvt|2.5–4.5|mm}} long and {{cvt|1.5–3|mm}} wide. The perianth is glabrous, white, pale pink or blue, forming a tube {{cvt|2.2–4.5|mm}} long. The upper lip is egg-shaped, {{cvt|3.0–4.5|mm}} long and {{cvt|1.2–2.0|mm}} wide, the lower lip joined for {{cvt|1.0–1.6|mm}} with lobes {{cvt|2–3|mm}} long. Flowering occurs from August to October, and the fruit is a reddish-brown to orange nut {{cvt|1.5–2.0|mm}} long and {{cvt|1.4–1.8|mm}} wide.{{FloraBase | name = Conospermum ephedroides | id = 1871}}{{cite web |last1=Bennett |first1=Edith M. |title=Conospermum ephedroides |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Conospermum%20ephedroides |publisher=Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra |access-date=29 July 2024}}
Taxonomy
Conospermum ephedroides was first formally described in 1855 by Carl Meissner in Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany, from an unpublished description by Richard Kippist.{{cite web|title=Conospermum ephedroides|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/instance/apni/489484 |publisher=APNI|access-date=29 July 2024}}{{cite journal |last1=Kippist |first1=Richard |editor-last1=Hooker |editor-first1=William Jackson |title=New Australian Proteaceae |journal=Hooker's Journal of Botany and Kew Garden Miscellany |date=1855 |volume=7 |page=70 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/6325#page/72/mode/1up |access-date=29 July 2024}} The specific epithet (ephedroides) means 'Ephedra-like'.{{cite book |last1=George |first1=Alex |last2=Sharr |first2=Francis |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2021 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |page=192 |edition=4th}}
Distribution and habitat
This species of Conospermum grows in sand, lateritic loam and gravel between Wongan Hills and Newdegate in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.
Conservation status
This species of Conospermum is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15574257}}
Category:Endemic flora of Western Australia
Category:Eudicots of Western Australia