Stylidium semaphorum
Encyclopedia
Stylidium semaphorum is a species that belongs to the genus
Stylidium (family Stylidiaceae
). The specific epithet semaphorum is Greek
for "sign-bearing" and refers to the flower shape, which appears to have to be positioned in a V-shape, a semaphore
code for "attention". It is an herbaceous perennial
that grows 5–18 cm tall and has divided stems covered with tile-like leaves that are arranged in a spiral formation around the stem. The narrowly ovate
leaves are basifixed and held closely against the stems. The leaves are around 2.0–2.3 mm long and 0.5–0.7 mm wide. The terminal inflorescence
s are spike-like raceme
s and produce flowers that are pale pink or white and bloom from September to October in their native range. S. semaphorum is only known from its type location
in south-western Western Australia
. The only population recorded is within the bounds of a nature reserve. Because of its small population levels, the government has declared this species to be rare in the wild, which is similar to a status of threatened, vulnerable, or endangered. Its habitat is recorded as being laterite
gravel soils on a hill summit in the company with Banksia sessilis. S. semaphorum is distinct within its subgenus because it possesses sepals with short brownish apical mucro.
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 semaphorum is Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
for "sign-bearing" and refers to the flower shape, which appears to have to be positioned in a V-shape, a semaphore
Semaphore
A semaphore telegraph, optical telegraph, shutter telegraph chain, Chappe telegraph, or Napoleonic semaphore is a system of conveying information by means of visual signals, using towers with pivoting shutters, also known as blades or paddles. Information is encoded by the position of the...
code for "attention". It is an herbaceous perennial
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
that grows 5–18 cm tall and has divided stems covered with tile-like leaves that are arranged in a spiral formation around the stem. The narrowly ovate
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 are basifixed and held closely against the stems. The leaves are around 2.0–2.3 mm long and 0.5–0.7 mm wide. The terminal 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 spike-like raceme
Raceme
A raceme is a type of inflorescence that is unbranched and indeterminate and bears pedicellate flowers — flowers having short floral stalks called pedicels — along the axis. In botany, axis means a shoot, in this case one bearing the flowers. In a raceme, the oldest flowers are borne...
s and produce flowers that are pale pink or white and bloom from September to October in their native range. S. semaphorum is only known from its type location
Biological type
In biology, a type is one particular specimen of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached...
in south-western Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The only population recorded is within the bounds of a nature reserve. Because of its small population levels, the government has declared this species to be rare in the wild, which is similar to a status of threatened, vulnerable, or endangered. Its habitat is recorded as being laterite
Laterite
Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock...
gravel soils on a hill summit in the company with Banksia sessilis. S. semaphorum is distinct within its subgenus because it possesses sepals with short brownish apical mucro.