Pultenaea empetrifolia
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{speciesbox
|name =
|image = Pultenaea empetrifolia.jpg
|image_caption = In the Australian National Botanic Gardens
|genus = Pultenaea
|species = empetrifolia
|status_system =
|status =
|authority = Meisn.{{cite web|title=Pultenaea empetrifolia|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/58989|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=8 July 2021}}
|synonyms = Pultenaea verticillata Turcz.
}}
Pultenaea empetrifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spindly, prostrate or spreading shrub with down-curved, cylindrical, grooved leaves and yellow to orange and red flowers.
Description
Pultenaea empetrifolia is a spindly, prostrate or spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of up to {{cvt|40|cm}} and has glabrous stems. The leaves are cylindrical and curved strongly downwards with one or two grooves along the lower surface, {{cvt|3–4.5|mm}} long and {{cvt|0.6–1.0|mm}} wide with stipules at the base. The flowers are yellow to orange and red, and sessile or on a pedicel about up to {{cvt|0.5|mm}} long. The sepals are hairy and {{cvt|4.0–4.6|mm}} long with hairy bracteoles {{cvt|1.5–3|mm}} long at the base. The standard petal is {{cvt|8.0–8.5|mm}} long, the wings {{cvt|7–8|mm}} long and the keel {{cvt|6.2–7.0|mm}} long. Flowering occurs from September to October and the fruit is a pod.{{FloraBase|name=Pultenaea empetrifolia|id=4171}}
Taxonomy and naming
Pultenaea empetrifolia was first formally described in 1844 by Carl Meissner in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae.{{cite web|title=Pultenaea empetrifolia|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/463167 |publisher=APNI|access-date=8 July 2021}}{{cite book |last1=Meissner |first1=Carl |last2=Lehmann |first2=Johann G.C. |title=Plantae Preissianae |volume=1|date=1844 |location=Hamburg |page=76 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/498179#page/81/mode/1up |access-date=8 July 2021}} The specific epithet (empetrifolia) means "Empetrum-leaved".{{cite book |last1=Sharr |first1=Francis Aubi |last2=George |first2=Alex |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2019 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |page=191 |edition=3rd}}
Distribution
This pultenaea is widespread in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.
Conservation status
Pultenaea empetrifolia is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.
References
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q15525605}}
Category:Eudicots of Western Australia