Boronia rupicola

Boronia rupicola is a species of plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is a small shrub with weeping branches, simple or pinnate leaves and small, green, inconspicuous flowers.

Boronia rupicola
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Boronia
Species:
B. rupicola
Binomial name
Boronia rupicola
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Description

Boronia rupicola is a shrub with weeping branches, that typically grows to a height of about 40 cm (16 in) and is able to grow from its rootstock. Its branches are brittle and more or less square in cross-section. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and there are both simple and pinnate leaves that are much paler on the lower surface. The leaves are 5–15 mm (0.20–0.59 in) long and 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) wide in outline, on a petiole 1.5–7 mm (0.059–0.276 in) long. The leaflets are elliptic to lance-shaped, 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide. The flowers are yellowish green and are borne singly, sometimes in groups of up to three on a peduncle 0.5–1 mm (0.02–0.04 in) long, individual flowers on a pedicel 0.5–3 mm (0.02–0.1 in) long. The sepals are egg-shaped to triangular, 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long and about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. The petals are 2–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide. Flowering occurs between March and July and the fruit is a capsule about 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Boronia rupicola was first formally described in 1997 by Marco F. Duretto who published the description in the journal Nuytsia.[5] The specific epithet (rupicola) is said to be derived form Latin rupestris, meaning "rocky" and incola, meaning, "inhabitant", referring to the specialised habitat of this species.[6]

Distribution and habitat

This boronia grows exclusively on vertical rock faces and is only known from Mount Brockman in Kakadu National Park and south of Nabarlek in Arnhem Land.[2][3][4]

Conservation status

This species is listed as "near threatened" under the Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2000.[3]

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References
  1. "Boronia rupicola". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  2. Duretto, Marco F. (1997). "Taxonomic notes on Boronia species of north-western Australia, including a revision of the Boronia lanuginosa group (Boronia section Valvatae (Rutaceae)" (PDF). Nuytsia. 11 (2): 54–56. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  3. "Boronia rupicola". Northern Territory Government flora online. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  4. Duretto, Marco F.; Wilson, Paul G.; Ladiges, Pauline Y. "Boronia rupicola". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  5. "Boronia rupicola". APNI. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  6. Duretto, M. F. (1997). "Taxonomic notes on Boronia species of north-western Australia, including a revision of the Boronia lanuginosa groups (Boronia section Valvatae:Rutaceae)". Nuytsia. 11 (3): 336–341.
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