''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 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 New South Wales.

Description

''Nematolepis rhytidophylla'' is a dense shrub to high with angled, warty stems and thickly covered in coppery scales. The leaves are egg-shaped, long, wide, stiff, leathery, edges flat or rolled under, upper surface smooth, shiny, underside with silvery scales and notched at the apex. 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 small cluster of 1-3 flowers in leaf axils, long, flower stems more or less flattened covered in coppery scales. The 1-4 small

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 ...

oblong shaped, long, covered on the outside with coppery scales. The triangular shaped sepals are more or less fused at the base, mostly smooth, white and dotted with glands. The white petals long, smooth and dotted with glands. The dry, slightly spreading fruit capsule is about long, more or less square, smooth, warty and ending minutely with a triangular point. Flowering occurs in spring and summer.

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1998 by David Albrecht and Neville Walsh and named it ''Phebalium rhytidophyllum'', and the description was published in the journal Muelleria. In 1998

Paul G.Wilson Paul Graham Wilson (born 1928) is an Australian botanist. He has been a most prolific contributor to the journal ''Nuytsia'', contributing to the first issue in 1970 and to the 12th volume in 1998, which was dedicated to him for his contribution ...

changed the name to ''Nematolepis rhytidophylla'' and the change 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

''Nematolepis rhytidophylla'' is an understorey shrub with a restricted distribution, found growing on the ranges between

Wog Wog Wog Wog is a locality in the Queanbeyan–Palerang Regional Council, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the south side of the Corang River and to the east of the road from Braidwood to Nowra about 34 km north of Braidwood and 96& ...

and White Rock Mountains southeast of

Bombala Bombala is a town in the Monaro region of south-eastern New South Wales, Australia, in Snowy Monaro Regional Council. It is approximately south of the state capital, Sydney, and south of the town of Cooma. The name derives from an Aboriginal ...

growing in rocky, sclerophyll scrubland.

Conservation status

''Nematolepis rhytidophylla'' is considered "vulnerable" under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15393993 Flora of New South Wales rhytidophylla Taxa named by Neville Grant Walsh