''Phebalium distans'', commonly known as the Mt. Berryman phebalium, is a species of small tree that is endemic to south-east Queensland. It is more or less covered with silvery to rust-coloured scales and has warty branchlets, linear leaves and creamy yellow flowers in umbels on the ends of branchlets.

Description

''Phebalium distans'' is a tree that typically grows to a height of up to , but is shrub-like when young. It is more or less covered with silvery to rust coloured scales except for the upper surface of the leaves and

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s. It has warty branchlets and linear leaves that are glabrous and glossy green on the upper surface, densely covered with scales on the lower surface, long and wide on a petiole long. The flowers creamy yellow and arranged in umbels, each flower on a pedicel long. The

calyx Calyx or calyce (plural "calyces"), from the Latin ''calix'' which itself comes from the Ancient Greek ''κάλυξ'' (''kálux'') meaning "husk" or "pod", may refer to: Biology * Calyx (anatomy), collective name for several cup-like structures ...

is top-shaped, about long, warty, glabrous on the inner surface and covered with warty glands on the outside. The

s are elliptical, about long and densely covered with scales on the back. Flowering occurs from August to September.

Taxonomy and naming

''Phebalium distans'' was first formally described in 2003 by Paul Irwin Forster in the journal '' Austrobaileya'' from specimens he collected in the Coalstoun Lakes National Park in 1990.

Distribution and habitat

''Phebalium distans'' grows in or near vine thicket and occurs on Mt. Berryman, the Mt. Jones Plateau and Mt. Walla in south-east Queensland.

Conservation status

This phebalium is classified as "critically endangered" under the Australian Government '' Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999'' and as "endangered" under the Queensland Government '' Nature Conservation Act 1992''. The main threats to the species include vegetation clearing, road maintenance, urban development and weed invasion.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18076871 distans Flora of Queensland Plants described in 2003 Taxa named by Paul Irwin Forster