Daviesia microphylla Bentham (1864: 86)

Crisp, Michael D., Cayzer, Lindy, Chandler, Gregory T. & Cook, Lyn G., 2017, A monograph of Daviesia (Mirbelieae, Faboideae, Fabaceae), Phytotaxa 300 (1), pp. 448-450 : 448-450

119. Daviesia microphylla Bentham (1864: 86) , Crisp (1995: 1212). Type : ‘W. Australia, Swan River and Darling range, Preiss. n. 1150 and 1155; Drummond , n. 32.’ Lectotype (Crisp 1995: 1212): Drummond 32 (K, ex Herb. Hooker). Syntype: Preiss 1150 (K, ex Herb. Bentham), MEL 79041 ; isosyntype: BR, FI-W, G (2 sheets), GOET, LD, MEL 79040 , MO, NY, P (2 sheets), S, W (2 sheets)

Daviesia parvifolia Moore (1920: 168) . Type: ‘ Kauring; G.W. Brown (Hb. Stoward, 560).’ Holotype: BM.

[ Daviesia incrassata auct . non Smith (1808b: 255): Meisner (1844: 49). Specimens cited: ‘In limoso-calculosis sylvae prope Halfwayhouse (Darlings-range) 12. September 1839. Herb. Preiss. No. 1150 et in asperis montis Greenmountain (Perth) 26. April 1840. No. 1155.’ Specimens seen: Preiss 1150 (LD, NY); Preiss 1155 (LD).]

Divaricate sprawling shrubs, to 0.6 m high and 1 m broad, glabrous, glossy dark green. Root anatomy unknown. Branchlets divaricate, short (ca. 1–6 cm), angular with sharp ridges in vivo, spinescent. Phyllodes crowded with bases often overlapping along the branchlets, divaricate, vertically compressed, ovate to narrowly so, often slightly oblique, apex acuminate, pungent, marginally thickened with a central depression, base cuneate to truncate, articulate, 2.5–5(–10) × 1–2 mm. Unit inflorescences 1 per axil, 1-flowered; peduncle nil; subtending bracts ascending, hooded, slightly keeled, with apex slightly fimbriate, ca. 0.5–1 mm long. Pedicels 3.5–4.5(–7) mm long. Calyx 2.5–3 mm including the ca. 0.75 mm receptacle; upper 2 lobes united in a truncate lip; lower 3 lobes triangular; lobes to 0.5 mm long. Corolla : standard round to very broadly elliptic and obovate, emarginate, 8–9 × 8–8.5 mm including the ca. 1 mm claw, with 2 small calli at the base of the lamina, orange with a dark red centre; wings obovate with a rounded and incurved apex, enclosing the keel, auriculate, ca. 8–8.5 × 3 mm including the 2 mm claw, maroon; keel half very broadly ovate with an acicular beak, slightly saccate, ca. 8–8.5 × 2 mm including the 4 mm claw, maroon. Stamens moderately dimorphic: inner whorl of 5 with longer filaments and shorter, versatile anthers; outer whorl of 5 with shorter filaments and longer, basifixed anthers; filaments all compressed, cohering; anthers all 2-celled. Pod obliquely shallowly obtriangular, acuminate, turgid, 11–14 × 6.5–7.5 mm; upper suture straight to slightly upcurved; lower suture 90° to obtuse. Seed not seen. ( Fig. 120 ).

Flowering period:— June to August. Fruiting period: Only specimen fruiting in November.

Distribution:— Western Australia, extant only in the eastern Darling Range and adjacent wheatbelt as far east as Dowerin–Quairading, but recorded in the past from much farther east at Brontie Station, near Koolyanobbing.

Habitat:— Grows on grey sandy loam with gravel or white sand in woodland dominated by Eucalyptus wandoo or in low heath.

Selected specimens (12 examined):— WESTERN AUSTRALIA. Avon: 1 km W of Hindmarsh Rifle Range , 31°19’S, 117°11’E, B. H . Smith 361, 2 June 1984 ( CBG, MEL); York , 31°53’S, 116°46’E, C. A . Gardner s.n., November 1920 ( PERTH 5212030 ). Darling: ca. 37 km W of Beverley, Qualen Road , 5 km SW of intersection with Gunapin Ridge Road, 32°07’S, 116°32’E, M . D. Crisp 6721, 26 July 1980 ( CBG, K, NSW, PERTH) .

Coolgardie: Bronti[e Station], 30°56’S, 119°30’E, E . Salisbury s.n., 7 August 1949 ( PERTH 5148472 ) .

Affinity:— Daviesia microphylla is similar to D. chapmanii and D. mesophylla . Daviesia chapmanii can be distinguished by its non-spinescent branchlets, longer phyllodes (10–15 mm long) and paler flowers (yellow to whitish). Daviesia mesophylla may be distinguished from D. microphylla by its procumbent habit, summer flowering period and non-spinescent branchlets.

Hybrids:— D. brachyphylla × D. microphylla (Crisp 6725).

A MONOGRAPH OF DAVIESIA

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CRISP ET AL.

A MONOGRAPH OF DAVIESIA

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Figures

FIGURE 120. Daviesia microphylla. A. Flowering branchlet. B. Inflorescence (1-flowered). C. Pod. A, B from Crisp 6271; C from Gardner s.n. (PERTH 5212030). Drawn by A.L. Prowse.