''Phebalium clavatum'' is a species of shrub that 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 Western Australia and is more or less covered with silvery scales. It has warty branchlets, more or less circular leaves with a large spherical

gland A gland is a Cell (biology), cell or an Organ (biology), organ in an animal's body that produces and secretes different substances that the organism needs, either into the bloodstream or into a body cavity or outer surface. A gland may also funct ...

and white flowers arranged singly on the ends of branchlets.

Description

''Phebalium clavatum'' is a shrub that typically grows to a height of . Its branchlets are covered with pale red glands and silvery, scale-like hairs. The leaves are more or less circular, about in diameter on a cylindrical

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 leaves and petiole are covered with silvery scales and the leaf has a large spherical gland. The flowers are white,

sessile Sessility, or sessile, may refer to: * Sessility (motility), organisms which are not able to move about * Sessility (botany), flowers or leaves that grow directly from the stem or peduncle of a plant * Sessility (medicine), tumors and polyps that ...

and borne on the ends of branchlets with two scaly

bracteoles 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 ...

about long at the base. The five

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, joined for half their length and covered with silvery scales. The

petal Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...

s are egg-shaped to elliptical, long and wide, covered with silvery scales on the back and the

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 are slightly longer than the petals. Flowering occurs from August to September.

Taxonomy and naming

''Phebalium clavatum'' was first formally described in 1943 by Charles Gardner in the journal ''

Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia The Royal Society of Western Australia (RSWA) promotes science in Western Australia. The RSWA was founded in 1914, and also gained the "Royal" name in the same year. It publishes the ''Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia'', and has ...

'' from specimens he collected near

Widgiemooltha Widgiemooltha is an Ghost town, abandoned town in Western Australia east of Perth, Western Australia between Kambalda, Western Australia, Kambalda and Norseman, Western Australia, Norseman in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australi ...

Distribution and habitat

This phebalium grows on sandplains in the Coolgardie district of Western Australia.

Conservation status

This phebalium is classified as " Priority Two" by the Western Australian Government

Department of Parks and Wildlife The Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPaW) was the department of the Government of Western Australia responsible for managing lands described in the ''Conservation and Land Management Act 1984'' and implementing the state's conservation and en ...

, meaning that it is poorly known and from only one or a few locations.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18076586 clavatum Flora of Western Australia Plants described in 1970 Taxa named by Charles Gardner