Phebalium squamulosum

Phebalium squamulosum , commonly known as scaly phebalium[2] or forest phebalium,[3] is a species of shrub or slender tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth branches covered with rust-coloured scales, linear to elliptical or egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and pale to bright yellow flowers in umbels with rust-coloured or silvery scales on the back.

Scaly phebalium
Phebalium squamulosum subsp. squamulosum in the ANBG
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Phebalium
Species:
P. squamulosum
Binomial name
Phebalium squamulosum
Vent.[1]
Synonyms[1]

Description

Phebalium squamulosum is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 3 m (9.8 ft), sometimes a slender tree to 7 m (23 ft). It has smooth branchlets covered with rust-coloured scales. The leaves are papery or leathery, linear to elliptical or egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 7–70 mm (0.28–2.76 in) long and 1.5–8 mm (0.059–0.315 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–4 mm (0.020–0.157 in) long. The upper surface of the leaves is more or less glabrous but the lower side is covered with silvery to rust-coloured scales and star-shaped hairs. Between five and ten or more flowers are arranged in umbels on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a pedicel 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long. The calyx is hemispherical to top-shaped, 0.5–1.5 mm (0.020–0.059 in) long and 1.2–2 mm (0.047–0.079 in) wide, glabrous on the inside and covered with scales on the outside. The petals are pale to bright yellow or cream-coloured, elliptical, 2–4.5 mm (0.079–0.177 in) long with silvery to rust-coloured scales on the back. The fruit is a follicle about 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long and erect.[2][3][4][5]

Taxonomy

Phebalium squamulosum was first formally described in 1805 by Étienne Pierre Ventenat in his book Jardin de la Malmaison and was the first species in the genus to be described.[6][7]

In 1970, Paul Wilson described ten subspecies, eight of which are now accepted by the Australian Plant Census:[4]

  • P. squamulosum subsp. alpinum (Benth.) Paul G.Wilson[8]
  • P. squamulosum subsp. argenteum Paul G.Wilson[9]
  • P. squamulosum subsp. coriaceum Paul G.Wilson[10]
  • P. squamulosum subsp. gracile Paul G.Wilson[11]
  • P. squamulosum subsp. lineare Paul G.Wilson[12]
  • P. squamulosum subsp. ozothamnoides (F.Muell.) Paul G.Wilson[13]
  • P. squamulosum subsp. parvifolium Paul G.Wilson[14]
  • P. squamulosum Vent. subsp. squamulosum[15]

There are many intergrades between subspecies and it is sometimes difficult to satisfactorily assign some plants to a taxon.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Scaly phebalium is widespread, mainly growing in heath and forest on sandstone. It is found in northern and south-eastern Queensland, eastern New South Wales and eastern Victoria.[2][3][16]

Use in horticulture

Phebalium squamulosum is cultivated as an ornamental flowering shrub. The species is frost tolerant and performs best in a well-drained, partially shaded position with a cool, moist root zone.[17]

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References
  1. "Phebalium squamulosum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  2. Weston, Peter H.; Harden, Gwen J. "Phebalium squamulosum". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. Duretto, Marco F. "Phebalium squamulosum". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. Wilson, Paul G. (1970). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Genera Crowea, Eriostemon and Phebalium (Rutaceae). Nuytsia 1(1):". Nuytsia. 1 (1): 80–87. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  5. Wilson, Paul G. "Phebalium squamulosum". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  6. "Phebalium squamulosum". APNI. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. Ventenat, Étienne Pierre (1805). Jardin de la Malmaison (Volume 2). Paris: De l'imprimerie de Crapelet, et se trouve chez l'auteur. pp. 102–103. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  8. "Phebalium squamulosum subsp. alpinum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  9. "Phebalium squamulosum subsp. argenteum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  10. "Phebalium squamulosum subsp. coriaceum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  11. "Phebalium squamulosum subsp. gracile". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  12. "Phebalium squamulosum subsp. lineare". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  13. "Phebalium squamulosum subsp. ozothamnoides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  14. "Phebalium squamulosum subsp. parvifolium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  15. "Phebalium squamulosum subsp. squamulosum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  16. "Phebalium squamulosum". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  17. Greig, D. (1987). The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0-207-15460-0.

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