''Phebalium elegans'' is a species of spreading 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. It has warty branchlets, wedge-shaped leaves and two to five white flowers arranged in

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s on the ends of branchlets.

Description

''Phebalium elegans'' is a spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of . It has warty branchlets covered with silvery scales. The leaves are wedge-shaped, covered with warty

glands 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 ...

, about long and wide,

glabrous Glabrousness () is the technical term for a lack of hair, down, setae, trichomes, or other such covering. A glabrous surface may be a natural characteristic of all or part of a plant or animal, or be due to loss because of a physical condition, ...

on the upper surface and covered with silvery scales below. Two to five white flowers are arranged in umbels on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a silvery-scaly

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

long. The

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is about long, with silvery to reddish -brown scales on the outside. 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 broadly elliptical, long and covered with silvery to rust-coloured scales on the back. Flowering occurs from July to September.

Taxonomy and naming

''Phebalium elegans'' was first formally described in 1998 by Paul Wilson in the journal ''

Nuytsia ''Nuytsia floribunda'' is a hemiparasitic tree found in Western Australia. The species is known locally as moodjar and, more recently, the Christmas tree or Western Australian Christmas tree. The display of intensely bright flowers during the ...

'' from specimens collected in the Fraser Range east of

Norseman The Norsemen (or Northmen) were a cultural group in the Early Middle Ages, originating among speakers of Old Norse in Scandinavia. During the late eighth century, Scandinavians embarked on a large-scale expansion in all directions, giving ris ...

Kenneth Newbey Kenneth Raymond Newbey (11 June 1936 – 24 July 1988) was a plant ecologist, botanical collector, and horticulturist. Born in Katanning, Western Australia, he collected over 12,000 specimens from the Albany- Esperance, Wheatbelt, goldfields, and ...

in 1980.

Distribution and habitat

''Phebalium elegans'' grows on rocky hills from the

Bremer Range Bremer may refer to: People *Bremer (surname) *Bremer Ehrler (1914–2013), American politician * Bremer (born 1997), Brazilian footballer Places ;Australia *Bremer Bay, Western Australia * Bremer Marine Park * Bremer Island *Bremer River (disambi ...

to the Fraser Range.

Conservation status

This phebalium is classified as "not threatened" 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 ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18075476 elegans Flora of Western Australia Plants described in 1998 Taxa named by Paul Graham Wilson