Cryptandra gemmata
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
|image =
|genus = Cryptandra
|species = gemmata
|status_system =
|status =
|authority = A.R.Bean{{cite web |title=Cryptandra gemmata |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/192140 |publisher=Australian Plant Census |access-date=27 November 2022}}
}}
Cryptandra gemmata is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the far north of the Northern Territory. It is a shrub with clustered linear leaves and white to creamy-white, tube-shaped flowers.
Description
Cryptandra gemmata is a shrub that typically grows to a height of {{cvt|20–30|cm}}, its young branchlets covered with star-shaped hairs. Its leaves are linear and needle-shaped in clusters of 3 to 9, each leaf {{cvt|0.8–1.1|mm}} long, {{cvt|0.3–0.4|mm}} wide and sessile, with narrowly triangular stipules {{cvt|1.0–1.3|mm}} long at the base. The upper surface of the leaves is glabrous and the lower surface is rarely visible. The flowers are borne in clusters of 3 to 5 on the ends of branchlets with elliptic brown bracts {{cvt|1.9–2.2|mm}} long at the base. The sepals are white to creamy-white, forming a cylindrical to urn-shaped tube {{cvt|1.6–1.7|mm}} long with lobes {{cvt|0.8–1.1|mm}} long. The petals protrude {{cvt|0.5–0.6|mm}} beyond the sepal tube, and form a hood over the stamens. Flowering has been observed in April, and the fruit is an oval schizocarp {{cvt|2.5–2.9|mm}} long.{{cite journal |last1=Bean |first1=Anthony R. |title=New species of Cryptandra Sm. and Stenanthemum Reissek (Rhamnaceae) from northern Australia. |journal=Austrobaileya |date=2004 |volume=6 |issue=4 |pages=928–930 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59885615#page/353/mode/1up |access-date=27 November 2022}}
Taxonomy and naming
Cryptandra gemmata was first formally described in 2004 by Anthony Bean in the journal Austrobaileya from specimens collected east of Jabiru in 1989.{{cite web|title=Cryptandra gemmata|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/591255|publisher=APNI|accessdate=27 November 2022}} The specific epithet (gemmata) means "provided with buds", referring to the development of buds around existing flowers and fruits.
Distribution and habitat
References
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q15538064}}
Category:Flora of the Northern Territory