Cryptandra Arbutiflora

''Cryptandra arbutiflora'', commonly known as waxy cryptandra, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a shrub with spiny branches, elliptic to linear leaves and tube-shaped white flowers.

Description

''Cryptandra arbutiflora'' is a shrub that typically grows to a height of and has spiny branchlets. Its leaves are linear to oblong with the edges turned down, more or less glabrous, long and wide on a petiole long.
The sepals are long, the petals white and tube-shaped, the tube part long with the style usually reaching to near the end of the tube. Flowering occurs from May to November and the fruit is long.

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described by botanist Eduard Fenzl based on plant material collected by Charles von Hügel from the Swan River area. Fenzl's description was published in 1837 in ''Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad fluvium Cygnorum et in sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus Liber Baro de Hügel''. The Latin specific epithet ''arbutiflora'' alludes to the flowers which are reminiscent of those of ''Arbutus unedo'', the strawberry tree.

Four varieties are currently accepted by the Australian Plant Census:
*''Cryptandra arbutiflora'' Fenzl var. ''arbutiflora'' is a shrub high with straight stem hairs, a floral tube long, an ovary that is largely superior in fruit within a broad floral tube, and glabrous fruit.
*''Cryptandra arbutiflora'' var. ''borealis'' Rye has curved stem hairs and scattered large star-shaped hairs on the fruit.
*''Cryptandra arbutiflora'' var. ''pygmaea'' Rye is a dwarf shrub high with straight stem hairs and a floral tube about long.
*''Cryptandra arbutiflora'' var. ''tubulosa'' (Fenzl) Benth. is a shrub high with straight stem hairs, a floral tube long, an ovary that is half inferior in fruit within a narrow floral tube, and glabrous fruit.

A former variety ''C. arbutiflora'' var. ''intermedia'' is now regarded as a species in its own right - '' Cryptandra intermedia''.

Distribution and habitat

''Cryptandra arbutiflora'' occurs between the south coast and the Dandaragan area to the north and also near Geraldton. It grows in a variety of soils on granite outcrops, breakaways and creek banks.

The variety ''arbutiflora'' is found in the Gillingarra to Mount Barker and Jerramungup areas, var. ''borealis'' from Kalbarri to the Chapman River, var. ''pygmaea'' near Lake Muir, and var. ''tubulosa'' from Perth to the Kent River.

Conservation status

Three varieties of ''C. arbutiflora'' are listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions but var. ''pygmaea'' is classified as " Priority Three" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is poorly known and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q5190626, from2=Q51045543, from3=Q51045556, from4=Q51045563, from5=Q51045575

arbutiflora
Rosales of Australia
Rosids of Western Australia
Taxa named by Eduard Fenzl
Plants described in 1837