Geleznowia amabilis K.A.Sheph. & A.D.Crawford

Anderson, Benjamin M., Binks, Rachel M., Byrne, Margaret, Crawford, Andrew D. & Shepherd, Kelly A., 2023, Using RADseq to resolve species boundaries in a morphologically complex group of yellow-flowered shrubs (Geleznowia, Rutaceae), Australian Systematic Botany 36 (4), pp. 277-311 : 293-295

Geleznowia amabilis K.A.Sheph. & A.D.Crawford , Nuytsia 31: 89–93, fig. 1 a–c (28 April 2020)

Type: Western Australia, Kalbarri [precise locality withheld for conservation reasons], 23 Sep. 2009, K. A. Shepherd & J. A. Wege KS 1305 (holo: PERTH 08152012 ; iso: CANB 721134 , NSW) .

Erect shrub 1–2 m high; older branches cream to light brown and glabrous, younger branches pale yellowish-green with an indumentum of sparse, simple hairs up to 0.05 mm long. Leaves silvery green, elliptic to obovate, 4.6–11.5 mm long, 2.5–7 mm wide, adaxial surface slightly concave and glabrous, abaxial surface glandular–verrucose and glabrous. Flowers 5–17, terminal inflorescences 15–33 mm long. Pedicel central flower 3.8–7 mm long, with scattered to moderately dense hairs 0.2–0.6 mm long. Bracts 8–10, vivid golden-yellow, rarely becoming tinged with red in fruit, elliptic to obovate, 7–16 mm long, 3.6–13 mm wide, sessile or shortly stalked; adaxial surface glabrous; abaxial surface glandular–verrucose, glabrous or with minute hairs to 0.04 mm long towards the base. Bracteoles 4–36, usually paired below each flower except central flower, narrowly obovate, narrowly elliptic or oblanceolate, 7–17 mm long, 1.7–6 mm wide, sometimes with an attenuate base, glabrous or both surfaces with hairs to 0.04 mm long. Sepals elliptic to oblong, longer than petals, 8.5–14 mm long, 4.3–9 mm wide, glabrous or sometimes with hairs at the point of attachment. Petals bright orange–yellow, cupped, coriaceous, narrowly elliptic, 4.8–8 mm long, 1.7–3.5 mm wide, glabrous. Stamens 10; filaments 3–4.4 mm long, broadening at base up to 0.3–0.5 mm wide, glabrous; anthers oblong, 1.4–2.3 mm long, 0.4–0.8 mm wide. Carpels 5, free, with two ovules per carpel, total length 1.4–3.5 mm, total width 1.6–2.3 mm wide, verrucose, glabrous. Style glabrous, 4.5–7.3 mm long; 0.2–0.3 mm wide; stigma narrower than style apex, 0.1 mm long, 0.1–0.3 mm wide. Fruit obovoid, 5.5–5.7 mm long, 8–10 mm wide. Seeds dark brown to black 3.8–5.5 mm long, 2.1–3.3 mm wide, aril pale cream 1.9–4.0 mm long ( Fig. 1 a , 9 ).

Distribution and habitat

Currently known only from a few populations in or near Kalbarri National Park ( Fig. 8 ) in the Geraldton Sandplains bioregion (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 2020). This species is found growing in yellow or brown sand over sandstone, or red–brown sandy loam with laterite, in coastal scrubland, dense heath, low mallee or Acacia shrubland with Calytrix , Grevillea , Calothamnus and Melaleuca .

Phenology

This species flowers from July to October, with fruits forming in October to November. The distinctive vivid golden-yellow colour of the bracts and sepals is maintained throughout flowering, although some outer bracts rarely become tinged with red towards the apex as fruits develop.

Conservation status

This species is listed as Priority Two under Conservation Codes for Western Australian Flora. Although some populations are found within a National Park, the extent of the distribution of this species remains poorly known and further survey is required.

Etymology

From the Latin amabilis , meaning worthy of love.

Notes

Geleznowia amabilis is unique in the genus by virtue of the following combination of characters: a tall shrub 1–2 m high with silvery grey–green leaves; 5–17 flowers per inflorescence, surrounded by 8–10 vivid golden-yellow bracts, 7–16 mm long, 3.6–13 mm wide, abaxial surface glabrous or sometimes with minute hairs 0.04 mm long; 4–36 bracteoles; sepals 8.5–14 mm long, 4.3–9 mm wide; and a narrow stigma 0.1–0.3 mm wide. Geleznowia amabilis is morphologically most similar to G. eximia but can be distinguished from it by its larger habit (shrub 1–2 m high 0.6–0.75 m high), generally larger numbers of flowers per inflorescence (5–17 cf. 5–7), which are subtended by more bracts (8–10 cf. 6–7), and the stigma being narrower than the style and 0.1–0.3 mm wide (cf. broader than the style and 0.4–0.5 mm wide).

Selected specimens examined

WESTERN AUSTRALIA. [localities withheld for conservation reasons] 6 Sep. 1990, D. E. Albrecht & B. A . Fuhrer DEA 4235 ( MEL 2013859 , PERTH 02933330 ); 6 Aug. 1967, A. M. Ashby 2209 ( AD 97849315 , AD 968071301 , MEL 2101785 , PERTH 0968072 ); 1 Sep. 2012, G. N. Brand 351 ( PERTH 08713146 ); 14 July 1994, L. Broadhurst 3 ( PERTH 05496624 ); 18 Oct. 1996, L. Broadhurst 18 ( PERTH 05599016 ); 11 Oct. 1996, M. G. Corrick & B. A . Fuhrer MGC 11388 ( MEL 2037214 , PERTH 05876540 ); 29 Nov. 1995, A. Crawford s.n. ( PERTH 04398947 ); 30 Nov. 2001, A. Crawford ADC 118 ( PERTH 06118933 ); 3 Oct. 2004, A. Crawford ADC 597 ( PERTH 07118090 ); 3 Oct. 2007, A. Crawford ADC 1383 ( PERTH 07828705 ); 3 Oct. 2007, A. Crawford ADC 1384 ( PERTH 07828659 ); 11 Sep. 2008, A. Crawford ADC 1850 / 1 ( PERTH 08201161 ); 22 July 2004, M. Harding 7 ( PERTH 06947972 ); 28 Sep. 1985, N. Hoyle 520 ( CANB 364776 , PERTH 0971227 ); 24 Oct. 2000, B. J. Lepschi & L. A . Craven 4343 ( CANB 638268 , MEL 2213143 , PERTH 06755348 ); 31 Aug. 2021, K. A. Shepherd & B. M . Anderson KS 1840 ( PERTH 09514732 ); 23 Sep. 2009, K. A. Shepherd & J. A . Wege KS 1306 (DNA D0273574, PERTH 08152020 ); 20 Aug. 2020, K. A. Shepherd & C. F . Wilkins KS 1730 ( AD, CANB, K, MEL, NSW, NY, PERTH 09508058 ); 21 Aug. 2020, K. A. Shepherd & C. F . Wilkins KS 1732 ( BRI, CANB, MEL, NSW, PERTH 09508007 ); 21 Aug. 2020, K. A. Shepherd & C. F . Wilkins KS 1733 ( CANB, DNA, MEL, MO, NSW, PERTH 09508015 ) .

Figures

Fig. 1. (Caption on next page)

Fig. 9. Geleznowia amabilis: (a) habitat; (b) single-stemmed habit; (c) dense head of vivid yellow flowers above whorls of silvery grey–green leaves; (d) open flower showing the large, vivid yellow sepals surrounding broad, orange–yellow petals and narrow stigma. Voucher: K.A. Shepherd & B.M. Anderson KS 1840. Photos: K. A. Shepherd.

Fig. 8. Distributions of all seven Geleznowia species in Western Australia. The base map is sourced from GADM (ver. 3.6, see https://gadm.org), with grey borders showing IBRA regions and subregions (Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment 2020).