Phebalium whitei
Encyclopedia
Phebalium whitei is a small shrub which is endemic to Queensland
in Australia
.
The species occurs in the Darling Downs region, where it is found in damp areas such as cracks in flat expanses of granite or along creek banks and also in open heathland.
It grows to a height of around 50 cm, and has dark green, oblong leaves up to 6 cm in length. The flowers, which are the largest in the genus
are bright yellow and occur from mid winter to late spring (July to November in Australia).
The species was originally classified as a variety of Phebalium squamulosum
and was given the name Phebalium squamulosum var. grandiflorum by C.T.White in 1939. The type specimen was obtained from Wybera, Queensland in 1932. In 1970 botanist Paul G. Wilson reclassified this variety as a species in its own right and gave it its current name.
Phebalium whitei is considered a vulnerable species within Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
. Australia Post
issued a 50c postage stamp
in February 2007 depicting the species.
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The species occurs in the Darling Downs region, where it is found in damp areas such as cracks in flat expanses of granite or along creek banks and also in open heathland.
It grows to a height of around 50 cm, and has dark green, oblong leaves up to 6 cm in length. The flowers, which are the largest in the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
are bright yellow and occur from mid winter to late spring (July to November in Australia).
The species was originally classified as a variety of Phebalium squamulosum
Phebalium squamulosum
Phebalium squamulosum is a shrub or tree species which is endemic to eastern Australia. It is known by the common names Scaly Phebalium or Forest Phebalium, the latter shared with the related species Leionema ambiens. It grows to between 1 and 7 metres in height.There are a number of...
and was given the name Phebalium squamulosum var. grandiflorum by C.T.White in 1939. The type specimen was obtained from Wybera, Queensland in 1932. In 1970 botanist Paul G. Wilson reclassified this variety as a species in its own right and gave it its current name.
Phebalium whitei is considered a vulnerable species within Australia under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and culturally significant places...
. Australia Post
Australia Post
Australia Post is the trading name of the Australian Government-owned Australian Postal Corporation .-History:...
issued a 50c postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
in February 2007 depicting the species.