Stylidium longissimum
Encyclopedia
Stylidium longissimum is a dicotyledon
ous plant
that belongs to the genus
Stylidium (family Stylidiaceae
). The specific epithet is from the Latin longissimus, which means "very long" and refers to this species' long capsules
that can be up to 15 mm long excluding the sepal
s. The capsules may be the longest in the genus.
S. longissimum is an annual plant
that grows from 16 to 30 cm tall. Elliptical
leaves, about 4-14 per plant, are scattered along the elongate, glabrous stem. The leaves are generally 3.5-9.5 mm long and 1.8-5 mm wide. Petioles
are nearly absent at 0-0.5 mm long and scapes
are completely absent. Inflorescence
s are 5-20 cm long and produce pink or mauve flowers that bloom in June in the southern hemisphere
. S. longissimum is endemic to the Cape Melville
area of Cape York Peninsula
in northern Queensland
. The populations of S. longissimum inhabit an area of less than 30 km² and the actual coverage is much less than that, which is why A.R. Bean recommended a conservation status of vulnerable
when he described this species in 2000.
Its habitat is recorded as being sandy soils in Melaleuca viridiflora
woodlands. S. longissimum is most closely related to S. inconspicuum
.
Dicotyledon
The dicotyledons, also known as dicots, are a group of flowering plants whose seed typically has two embryonic leaves or cotyledons. There are around 199,350 species within this group...
ous plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
that belongs to 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...
Stylidium (family Stylidiaceae
Stylidiaceae
The family Stylidiaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants. It consists of five genera with over 240 species, most of which are endemic to Australia and New Zealand. Members of Stylidiaceae are typically grass-like herbs or small shrubs and can be perennials or annuals...
). The specific epithet is from the Latin longissimus, which means "very long" and refers to this species' long capsules
Capsule (fruit)
In botany a capsule is a type of simple, dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. A capsule is a structure composed of two or more carpels that in most cases is dehiscent, i.e. at maturity, it splits apart to release the seeds within. A few capsules are indehiscent, for example...
that can be up to 15 mm long excluding the sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s. The capsules may be the longest in the genus.
S. longissimum is an annual plant
Annual plant
An annual plant is a plant that usually germinates, flowers, and dies in a year or season. True annuals will only live longer than a year if they are prevented from setting seed...
that grows from 16 to 30 cm tall. Elliptical
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
leaves, about 4-14 per plant, are scattered along the elongate, glabrous stem. The leaves are generally 3.5-9.5 mm long and 1.8-5 mm wide. Petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
are nearly absent at 0-0.5 mm long and scapes
Scape (botany)
In botany, scapes are leafless flowering stems that rise from the ground. Scapes can have a single flower or many flowers, depending on the species....
are completely absent. Inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
s are 5-20 cm long and produce pink or mauve flowers that bloom in June in the southern hemisphere
Southern Hemisphere
The Southern Hemisphere is the part of Earth that lies south of the equator. The word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' or "half sphere"...
. S. longissimum is endemic to the Cape Melville
Cape Melville
Cape Melville is a headland on the eastern coast of the Cape York Peninsula. To its west lies Princess Charlotte Bay. It is part of the Cape Melville National Park....
area of Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large remote peninsula located in Far North Queensland at the tip of the state of Queensland, Australia, the largest unspoilt wilderness in northern Australia and one of the last remaining wilderness areas on Earth...
in northern Queensland
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...
. The populations of S. longissimum inhabit an area of less than 30 km² and the actual coverage is much less than that, which is why A.R. Bean recommended a conservation status of vulnerable
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
when he described this species in 2000.
Its habitat is recorded as being sandy soils in Melaleuca viridiflora
Melaleuca viridiflora
Melaleuca viridiflora, known as broad-leaved paperbark, is a small tree native to woodlands, swamps and streams of monsoonal northern Australia and Papua New Guinea....
woodlands. S. longissimum is most closely related to S. inconspicuum
Stylidium inconspicuum
Stylidium inconspicuum is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the genus Stylidium . It is an annual plant that grows from 5 to 20 cm tall. Obovate or elliptical leaves, about 5-30 per plant, are scattered along the elongate, glabrous stem. The leaves are generally 4-8 mm long and...
.