Geleznowia narcissoides K.A.Sheph. & A.D.Crawford, 2023

Anderson, Benjamin M., Binks, Rachel M., Byrne, Margaret, Crawford, Andrew D. & Shepherd, Kelly A., 2023, Using RADseq to resolve species boundaries in a morphologically complex group of yellow-flowered shrubs (Geleznowia, Rutaceae), Australian Systematic Botany 36 (4), pp. 277-311 : 299-302

Geleznowia narcissoides K.A.Sheph. & A.D.Crawford , sp. nov.

Type: Western Australia, south–south-east of Kalbarri [precise locality withheld for conservation reasons], 23 Sep. 2009, K. A. Shepherd & J. A. Wege KS 1301 (holo: PERTH 08151970 ; iso: BM) .

Geleznowia sp. Binnu ( K. A. Shepherd & J. Wege KS 1301), Western Australian Herbarium, in Florabase, https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au [accessed 10 May 2022] .

Erect single-stemmed subshrub to shrub 0.4–1.2 m high; older branches light brown to light grey–brown and glabrous, younger branches yellowish-green with an indumentum of scattered to moderately dense, simple hairs 0.05–0.3 mm long. Leaves dull green, elliptic to obovate, 7.5–10 mm long, 4–6.8 wide, adaxial surface slightly concave and glabrous or with a few simple hairs 0.05–0.1 mm long, abaxial surface glandular–verrucose, glabrous. Flowers (5)7–10, terminal inflorescences 12–23 mm long. Pedicel of central flower 5–6 mm long, with dense to tomentose hairs 1.2–2.5 mm long. Bracts 7–11, pale lemon yellow, sometimes tinged with red post-pollination, broadly obovate with an attenuate base or spathulate, 7.2–22 mm long, 4.6–11.5 mm wide, adaxial surface with moderately dense to dense hairs 0.2–1.2 mm long, abaxial surface glandular–verrucose with moderately dense to dense hairs 0.2–1.2 mm long. Bracteoles 9–18, usually paired below each flower except central flower, narrowly obovate to spathulate, 8.8–17 mm long, 2.8–8 mm wide, adaxial surface moderately dense hairs 0.2–0.3 mm long, abaxial surface with moderately dense hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long. Sepals pale lemon yellow, elliptic to obovate, longer than petals, 8.5–15 mm long, 4.1–7 mm wide, adaxial surface with dense hairs 0.1–0.6 mm long and up to 1.2 mm long towards the base and margin, abaxial surface with scattered to dense hairs 0.05–0.5 mm long. Petals yellow, elliptic, cupped, coriaceous, 4–8.5 mm long, 1.8–3.5 mm wide, glabrous. Stamens 10; filaments 2.5–4.1 mm long, broadening at base to 0.3–0.5 mm wide, glabrous; anthers oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, 0.6–0.9 mm wide. Carpels 5, free, with 2 ovules per carpel, total length 1.6–7 mm, total width 1.8–7.8 mm, verrucose, glabrous or sometimes with scattered hairs 0.1 mm long. Style glabrous, 3.7–5.5 mm long; stigma obovoid, 0.2–0.3 mm long, 0.4–0.5 mm wide. Fruit obovoid, 5–7 mm long, 7–12 mm wide. Seeds dark brown to black, 4.3–5.2 mm long, 2.6–3.4 mm wide; aril pale cream 2.3–3.0 mm long ( Fig. 1 c , 12 ).

Distribution and habitat

This species is known from a few widespread populations from north of Geraldton to north of Kalbarri ( Fig. 8 ) in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 2020). However, recent field work has failed to relocate this species in some areas where it has been previously collected, and it is unclear how many populations are currently persisting. Found growing on gentle slopes or flats in white–grey or yellow sand or brown sand over laterite in Banksia woodlands with Grevillea , Hibbertia , and small-flowered myrtaceous species or in low heath with Acacia , Banksia attenuata , Allocasuarina , Grevillea , Calothamnus , Calytrix and Stirlingia .

Phenology

Flowering commences in August and continues through to September. Fruiting from October to November. The bracts in G. narcissoides may become tinged with red post-pollination.

Conservation status

This range-restricted species is known from only a few populations outside the conservation estate. It is listed as Priority Three under Conservation Codes for Western Australian Flora as G. sp. Binnu ( K. A. Shepherd & J. Wege KS 1301).

Etymology

From Narcissus L. and the Latin - oides (like), alluding to the showy flowers of this species being reminiscent of a doubleheaded daffodil.

Notes

Differs from morphologically similar species in Geleznowia by the following features: subshrub to shrub 0.4–1.2 m high with dull green leaves; (5)7–10 flowers per inflorescence, surrounded by 7–11 pale lemon-yellow bracts 7.2–22 mm long, 4.6–11.5 mm wide, abaxial surface with moderately dense to dense hairs 0.2–1.2 mm long; 9–18 bracteoles; sepals 8.5–15 mm long, 4.1–7 mm wide; and a broad stigma 0.4–0.5 mm wide. For comparison, see notes under G. calycina .

Selected specimens examined

WESTERN AUSTRALIA. [localities withheld for conservation reasons] 27 June 1995, L. Broadhurst 11 (Curtin University Herbarium, PERTH 05645298 ); 30 Aug. 1965, A. C. Burns 31 ( PERTH 00967017 ); 28 Nov. 2001, A. Crawford ADC 108 ( PERTH 06118771 ); 3 Oct. 2004, A. Crawford ADC 593 ( PERTH 07118287 ); 2 Oct. 2007, A. Crawford ADC 1381 ( AD, PERTH 07828691 ); 11 Sep. 2008, A. Crawford ADC 1846 / 1 ( PERTH 08201242 ); 11 Sep. 2008, A. Crawford ADC 1848 / 1 ( PERTH 08201145 ); 6 Sep. 1997, G. Flowers & S . Donaldson GF 202 ( CBG, PERTH 05920485 ); 14 July 2004, M. Harding s.n. ( PERTH 06949851 ); 23 July 2004, M. Harding 11 ( PERTH 06947999 ); 23 Sep. 2009, K. A. Shepherd & J. A . Wege KS 1302 ( AD, PERTH 08151989 ); 31 Aug. 2021, K. A. Shepherd & B. M Anderson KS 1837 ( PERTH 09514716 ); 31 Aug. 2021, K. A. Shepherd & B. M Anderson KS 1838 ( PERTH 09514724 ); 20 Aug. 2020, K. A. Shepherd & C. F . Wilkins KS 1727 ( AD, BRI, CANB, DNA, K, MEL, MSB, NSW, NY, PERTH 09508023 ); 20 Aug. 2020, K. A. Shepherd & C. F . Wilkins KS 1728 ( CANB, MEL, NSW, P, PERTH 09508031 ); 16 Aug. 2016, R. Simkin

RSM 02 ( PERTH 09236880 ); 26 Aug. 2016 , R. Simkin RS 1621( PERTH 09236872 ) .

Figures

Fig. 1. (Caption on next page)

Fig. 12. (Caption on next page)

Fig. 8. Distributions of all seven Geleznowia species in Western Australia. The base map is sourced from GADM (ver. 3.6, see https://gadm.org), with grey borders showing IBRA regions and subregions (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 2020).