''Calytrix retrorsifolia'' is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family

Myrtaceae Myrtaceae (), the myrtle family, is a family of dicotyledonous plants placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, pōhutukawa, bay rum tree, clove, guava, acca (feijoa), allspice, and eucalyptus are some notable members of this group. All ...

and is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only 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 foun ...

to a restricted part of the south-west of Western Australia. It is a slender, spreading, open shrub with linear leaves and clusters of white flowers with 23 to 40 white

stamen The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s in several rows.

Description

''Calytrix retrorsifolia'' is a slender, spreading, open shrub that typically grows to a height of up to . The leaves are linear, long, wide on a

petiole Petiole may refer to: *Petiole (botany), the stalk of a leaf, attaching the blade to the stem *Petiole (insect anatomy) In entomology, petiole is the technical term for the narrow waist of some hymenopteran insects, especially ants, bees, and ...

long. The flowers are borne in clusters long on a peduncle about long with green to light brown

bracteole In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves in size, color, shape or texture. They also look ...

s long. The floral tube is long and has 5 ribs. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

s are long and wide and lack awns. The petals are yellow in the bud stage, then white, long and wide with 23 to 40 white stamens, the longest filaments long. Flowering mostly occurs in October.

Taxonomy

''Calytrix retrorsifolia'' was first formally described in 2017 by

Francis Jason Nge Francis may refer to: People and characters *Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church (2013–2025) *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) * Francis, a character played by YouTuber Boogie29 ...

and Kevin R. Thiele in the journal '' Nuytsia'' from specimens collected near Tutunup by Greg Keighery and Neil Gibson. The

specific epithet In Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin gramm ...

(''retrorsifolia'') means 'bent backwards-leaved'.

Distribution and habitat

This species of ''Calytrix'' is restricted to the Whicher Range where it grows in shallow red clays and/or yellow sands in shrublands and woodlands in the

Swan Coastal Plain The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geol ...

bioregion of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status

This star flower is listed as " Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia

Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) is the Government of Western Australia, Western Australian government department responsible for managing lands and waters described in the ''Conservation and Land Management A ...

, meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations where it is potentially at risk.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q54652973 Plants described in 2017 retrorsifolia Flora of Western Australia