Pultenaea percussa M.A.M.Renner & P.H.Weston, 2022

Renner, Matthew A. M., Barrett, Russell L., Clarke, Steve, Clugston, James A. R. & Wilson, Peter H. Weston Trevor C., 2022, Morphological and molecular evidence refute a broad circumscription for Pultenaea glabra (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae), with implications for taxonomy, biogeography, and conservation, Australian Systematic Botany 35 (3), pp. 225-277 : 271-273

7. Pultenaea percussa M.A.M.Renner & P.H.Weston , sp. nov.

Pultenaea sp. Shadowgraph Bluff ( T. & J. Whaite 3455) NSW Herbarium, PlantNet [https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/ accessed 22 Feb. 2022] .

Type: 1/ 4 mile [~ 400 m] below Shadowgraph Bluff-Hollander’s Ck, 15 Aug. 1970, T. & S. Whaite 3455 (holo: NSW 470120 ) .

Diagnosis

Pultenaea percussa is distinct among members of the P. glabra complex in its tightly inrolled–clavate leaves 2.3–3.9 mm long that lack an apiculus and the abaxial surface of which is ornamented with triangular mamillae formed by single epidermal cells; the flowers on normal leafy shoots, and the spreading growth habit.

Spreading woody shrub up to 60 cm tall and 180 cm across; branching irregular; branchlets hairy, hairs long, spreading or antrorse. Stipules furcate, lobes diverging and recurving slightly from a parallel-sided and appressed lamina; lobes acuminate, eccentrically keeled; margins denticulate. Leaves inrolled–clavate, 2.3–3.9 (average 3.3) mm long by 0.7–1.0 (average 0.8) mm wide, narrow-based then widening above, widest close to apex; apex rounded, muticous (without apiculus, and not even a hint of a nerve protruding from the leaf lamina); lamina and petiole glabrous; lamina folded dorsally in halves, adaxial surface almost completely enclosed; adaxial leaf surface glaucous, adorned with dense, tall, columnar papillae; abaxial leaf surface mamillose, with triangular mamillae formed by single epidermal cells. Leaf anatomy with abaxial epidermis orange, almost peach, in colour; below the abaxial epidermis is a layer of palisade-like cells extending nearly the breadth of the abaxial leaf, they are absent only from the very margin, these palisade cells are intensely orange–brown or orange–red pigmented; one vascular trace is present. Inflorescence on leafy shoots, internodes not contracted; shoot continuing vegetative growth after flower production; stipules associated with flowers similar to those subtending vegetative leaves, but with shorter lobes and ciliolate margins. Flowers pedicillate, pedicel short, sparsely hairy. Calyx glabrous, surface with low papillae but smaller than those on leaves; calyx lobe apex acute. Bracteoles triangular, with ciliolate margins, keeled in upper half, not exceeding the sinus between calyx lobes. Corolla colour unknown; standard obovate to slightly obcordate; wings narrow obovate from a broad stipe, basal auricle indistinct with a rounded to obtuse apex; keel linear on upper margin, apex evenly and continuously rounded, lower margin shallowly and continuously curved above a basal stipe, auricle indistinct and obtuse; keel asymmetrically narrow elliptic, subrectangular in outline, with linear upper margin from a truncate, nearly square basal auricle, apex broadly rounded, and ventral margin shallowly curved. Ovary not observed. Pods unknown ( Fig. 30 ).

Distribution and ecology

Pultenaea percussa is known only from the type gathering, which was made from a population of plants of unknown extent on ‘shale slopes’ in the catchment of the Hollanders River, to the south of Shadowgraph Bluff.

Recognition

Pultenaea percussa is distinct in its short inrolled–clavate leaves (2.3–3.9 mm long) that bear triangular mamillae on the abaxial leaf surface. The leaf size, shape, and ornamentation present a unique combination of characters and wholly distinctive aspect within Pultenaea known from the eastern Australia.

Conservation status

Pultenaea percussa is data deficient, pending search and survey effort to relocate this species in the wild.

Etymology

From the Latin percussa ‘ thrust through’ or ‘pierced’, but also referencing the modern use of this root in ‘percussion’. The hollow, club-shaped leaves of this species could either stike, or be struck. This species is dedicated to everyone who lives, or has lived, with a traumatic brain injury, and especially to everyone who supports them. Traumatic brain injuries diminish capacity and reduce quality of life, and may involve a deep and personal grief for the loss of self, which may never be fully recovered. Though traumatic brain injuries are varied in their effect, they are generally isolating and disorientating events from which recovery may take a great deal of support.

Specimens examined

Known only from the type gathering.

Figures

Fig. 30. Pultenaea percussa (=P. sp. Shadowgraph Bluff (T. & J. Whaite 3455)) line drawing. (a) Habit, (b) flowering branch detail, (c) standard petal, (d) keel, (e) wing, (f) calyx tube, open, (g) anther, front view, (h) stamen, back view showing pigmented filament, (i) leaf, adaxial surface magnified view (j) leaf, abaxial surface magnified view, (k) leaf, comparative scale to other illustra- tions, (l) stem detail showing stipule. Scale bar: 26.7 mm (a); 5 mm (b, k); 8 mm (c–e); 4 mm (f); 1.6 mm (g–j); 2.7 mm (l). All from NSW 470120, all from dried material.