Phebalium distans

Phebalium distans, commonly known as the Mt. Berryman phebalium,[2] is a species of small tree that is endemic to south-east Queensland. It is more or less covered with silvery to rust-coloured scales and has warty branchlets, linear leaves and creamy yellow flowers in umbels on the ends of branchlets.

Mt. Berryman phebalium

Critically endangered  (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Phebalium
Species:
P. distans
Binomial name
Phebalium distans
Synonyms[1]

Phebalium squamulosum subsp. squamulosum auct. non Vent.: Wilson, Paul G. (1970)

Description

Phebalium distans is a tree that typically grows to a height of up to 8 m (26 ft), but is shrub-like when young. It is more or less covered with silvery to rust coloured scales except for the upper surface of the leaves and petals. It has warty branchlets and linear leaves that are glabrous and glossy green on the upper surface, densely covered with scales on the lower surface, 14–62 mm (0.55–2.44 in) long and 0.5–0.8 mm (0.020–0.031 in) wide on a petiole 1.7–3 mm (0.067–0.118 in) long. The flowers creamy yellow and arranged in umbels, each flower on a pedicel 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The calyx is top-shaped, about 1 mm (0.039 in) long, warty, glabrous on the inner surface and covered with warty glands on the outside. The petals are elliptical, about 3 mm (0.12 in) long and densely covered with scales on the back. Flowering occurs from August to September.[3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Phebalium distans was first formally described in 2003 by Paul Irwin Forster in the journal Austrobaileya from specimens he collected in the Coalstoun Lakes National Park in 1990.[4][5]

Distribution and habitat

Phebalium distans grows in or near vine thicket and occurs on Mt. Berryman, the Mt. Jones Plateau and Mt. Walla in south-east Queensland.[2][4]

Conservation status

This phebalium is classified as "critically endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as "endangered" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992. The main threats to the species include vegetation clearing, road maintenance, urban development and weed invasion.[2][6]

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References
  1. "Phebalium distans". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  2. "Approved Conservation Advice for Phebalium distans (Mt. Berryman Phebalium)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  3. Wilson, Paul G. "Phebalium distans". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  4. Forster, Paul Irwin (2003). "Phebalium distans P.I.Forst. (Rutaceae), a new and endangered species from south-eastern Queensland, and reinstatement of P. longifolium S.T.Blake". Austrobaileya. 6 (3): 438–441. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  5. "Phebalium distans". APNI. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  6. "Species profile - Phebalium distans". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
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