''Nematolepis'' is a genus of seven species of plants in the family Rutaceae, all endemic to Australia. They are shrubs or small trees with more or less flat leaves arranged alternately and flowers with five overlapping petals and ten

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

s. Six species are found in eastern Australia and one in Western Australia.

Description

Plants in the genus ''Nematolepis'' are shrubs or small trees with their stems, leaves and sepals covered with shield-like scales. The leaves are simple and arranged alternately. The flowers are arranged singly or in

cymes 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 on ...

in leaf axils, and have five sepals, five partly overlapping petals and ten stamens, all free from each other in most species. The five

carpels Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) ''pistils'' ...

are free from each other, each with two ovules and the stigma is not differentiated from the style. The fruit usually has a single seed in each of the five follicles.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Nematolepis'' was first formally described in 1852 by Nikolai Turczaninow in the ''Bulletin de la Société Impériale des Naturalistes de Moscou'' and the first species described was ''

Nematolepis phebalioides ''Nematolepis phebalioides'', is a small, spreading shrub with ascending branches covered in scales, smooth, glossy leaves and pendulous, red tubular flowers with yellow or green tips, flowering from March to December. It is endemic to Western A ...

''.

Species list

The Australian Plant Census accepted seven species as at July 2020: * ''

Nematolepis elliptica ''Nematolepis elliptica'', is a small, bushy shrub with white flowers in small clusters from September to November. It is endemic to the south coast of New South Wales. Description ''Nematolepis elliptica'' is a small shrub to high with rounde ...

'' (Paul G.Wilson) Paul G.Wilson (N.S.W.) * ''

Nematolepis frondosa ''Nematolepis frondosa'', commonly known as leafy nematolepis, is a shrub that is endemic to Victoria, Australia. It is a small, conical shaped shrub with glossy leaves, scaly branchlets and white flowers in winter and spring. Description ''Nem ...

'' (N.G.Walsh & Albr.) Paul G.Wilson — leafy nematolepis (Vic.) * ''

Nematolepis ovatifolia ''Nematolepis ovatifolia'', is a small shrub with rusty coloured scales on the stems, smooth, glossy leaves and white flowers in small clusters in summer. It is endemic to New South Wales. Description ''Nematolepis ovatifolia'' is a small, den ...

'' (F.Muell.) Paul G.Wilson (N.S.W.) * ''

'' Turcz. (W.A.) * ''

Nematolepis rhytidophylla ''Nematolepis rhytidophylla'', is a dense shrub with angular stems, covered densely in coppery coloured scales, smooth, glossy leaves and white flowers in small clusters in winter and spring. It is endemic to New South Wales. Description ''Ne ...

'' (Albr. & N.G.Walsh) Paul G.Wilson (N.S.W.) * ''

Nematolepis squamea ''Nematolepis squamea '', commonly known as Satinwood, is an upright shrub or small tree species which is endemic to Australia. Description ''Nematolepis squamea'' is an erect and conical shrub or small tree that grows to 12m in height. It ...

'' (Labill.) Paul G.Wilson — satinwood, lancewood satin box, satin box, lancewood or bobie bobie (Qld., N.S.W., Vic., Tas.) ** ''Nematolepis squamea'' subsp. ''coriacea'' (Paul G.Wilson) Paul G.Wilson ** ''Nematolepis squamea'' (Turcz.) Paul G.Wilson subsp. ''squamea'' (Paul G.Wilson) Paul G.Wilson * ''

Nematolepis wilsonii ''Nematolepis wilsonii '' (shiny nematolepis) is an endangered shrub or small tree species which is endemic to Victoria in Australia. It may grow up to 10 metres tall and has mottled bark. The shiny green leaves are 30 to 80 mm long and 5 ...

'' (N.G.Walsh & Albr.) Paul G.Wilson (Vic. - extinct)

References

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2708442 Taxa named by Nikolai Turczaninow Zanthoxyloideae genera