''Leionema diosmeum'' is a shrub species in the family

Rutaceae The Rutaceae is a family, commonly known as the rueRUTACEAE
in BoDD – Botanical Derm ...

that is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to southern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

, Australia. It has an upright habit, stems with fine soft hairs, variable shaped leaves and yellow flowers from late winter to spring.

Description

''Leionema diosmeum'' is a shrub to high with smooth branches, leaves usually needle-shaped or occasionally oval to lance shaped, long, wide, rounded apex, upper surface smooth or covered in soft thin individual hairs or rarely fine rough hairs, lower surface with coarse star-shaped hairs. The

inflorescence An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...

is a compact head at the end of branches, each flower in axils of linear

bracts In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

about long on a thick

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

long, calyx is an inverted top shape and deeply lobed. The flower petals a creamish-yellow, light red on the outside toward apex, long with occasional hairs tipped with glands. The fruit are upright, about long with an angled beak. Bears clusters of yellow flowers in spring.

Taxonomy

''Leionema diosmeum'' was first formally described by Paul G. Wilson and the description was published in

Nuytsia ''Nuytsia floribunda'' is a hemiparasitic tree found in Western Australia. The species is known locally as moodjar and, more recently, the Christmas tree or Western Australian Christmas tree. The display of intensely bright flowers during the ...

Distribution and habitat

This species grows on sandstone in dry sclerophyll forest and heath south of the

Royal National Park The Royal National Park is a protected national park that is located in Sutherland Shire in the Australian state of New South Wales, just south of Sydney. The national park is about south of the Sydney central business district near the local ...

in New South Wales.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15392951 diosmeum Sapindales of Australia Flora of New South Wales Taxa named by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu