Biology:Billardiera uniflora

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Short description: Species of shrub endemic to South Australia

Billardiera uniflora
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Pittosporaceae
Genus: Billardiera
Species:
B. uniflora
Binomial name
Billardiera uniflora
E.M.Benn.[1]
Billardiera uniflora Dist Map21.png
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Billardiera uniflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Pittosporaceae and is endemic to part of the south-east of South Australia. It is a glabrous, woody climber with narrowly elliptic leaves and pendent yellow flowers arranged singly or in pairs.

Description

Billardiera uniflora is glabrous, woody climber with narrowly elliptic leaves, 40–52 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide with wavy edges. The flowers are arranged singly or in pairs on a thin, down-curved, more or less glabrous peduncle 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) long. The sepals are egg-shaped, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide. The petals are yellow and turn pinkish-red as they age, 17–19 mm (0.67–0.75 in) long and 2.0–2.8 mm (0.079–0.110 in) wide. Flowering occurs in August and September and the mature fruit is a glabrous oblong berry 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in) long containing brown seeds 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy

Billardiera uniflora was formally described in 1978 by Eleanor Marion Bennett in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Port Lincoln.[4][5] The specific epithet (uniflora) refers to the usually single-flowered inflorescence.[4]

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in mallee scrub and coastal heath on limestone and is endemic to the Mount Lofty and Port Lincoln areas and Kangaroo Island in south-eastern South Australia.[2][3][4]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q15589346 entry