Biology:Maireana melanocarpa

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Short description: Species of plant in the amaranth family

Maireana melanocarpa
File:Maireana melanocarpa.jpg
Near Farina, South Australia
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Maireana
Species:
M. melanocarpa
Binomial name
Maireana melanocarpa
Paul G.Wilson[1]

Maireana melanocarpa, commonly known as black-fruit bluebush,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It is a multi-branched shrub or subshrub with woolly branches, more or less terete woolly leaves, flowers arranged singly and a dark brown to black fruiting perianth with a horizontal wing with dark brown veins.

Description

Maireana melanocarpa is a multi-branched shrub or subshrub that typically grows to a height of up to about 50 cm (20 in) abd has woolly branches. The leaves are arranged alternately, semiterete, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long, about 1 mm (0.039 in) wide and woolly. The flowers are arranged singly and the fruiting perianth is dark brown to black at maturity, with a shortly hemispherical tube about 2 mm (0.079 in) long and 1 mm (0.039 in) high, rigid and ribbed. The wing is horizontal, up to 6 mm (0.24 in) wide with dark brown veins with a radial slit.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy

Maireana melanocarpa was first formally described in 1975 by Paul Wilson in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected on Mount Lyndhurst in 1955.[5] The specific epithet (melanocarpa) means 'black-fruited'.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Black-fruit bluebush grows in on sandy rises around salt lakes between Beltana and Lake Watherstone near Leigh Creek, west of the north Flinders Range.[2][4]

References

  1. ↑ "Maireana melanocarpa". Australian Plant Census. https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/57744. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Maireana melanocarpa". Seeds of South Australia. https://spapps.environment.sa.gov.au/SeedsOfSA/speciesinformation.html?rid=2802. 
  3. ↑ Wilson, Paul G. (1975). "A Taxonomic Revision of the genus Maireana (Chenopodiaceae).". Nuytsia 2 (1): 52–53. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53253949#page/58/mode/1up. Retrieved 31 July 2025. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wilson, Paul G.. "Maireana melanocarpa". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra.. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Maireana%20melanocarpa. 
  5. ↑ "Maireana melanocarpa". Australian Plant Name Index. https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/instance/apni/461075. 
  6. ↑ George, Alex S.; Sharr, Francis A. (2023). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings - A Glossary (fifth ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables Press. p. 258. ISBN 9780645629538. 

Wikidata ☰ Q22786426 entry