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Lithomyrtus obtusa

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Lithomyrtus obtusa
Flowers of Lithomyrtus obtusa
Flowers
Fruit of Lithomyrtus obtusa
Fruit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Lithomyrtus
Species:
L. obtusa
Binomial name
Lithomyrtus obtusa

Lithomyrtus obtusa, commonly known as beach myrtella, is a flowering plant species in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It occurs in coastal areas in New Guinea and Queensland, Australia.[1]

It is a shrub that grows to between 1 and 2 metres high. Leaves have recurved edges and are hairy on the underside.[1] Pink flowers appear between January and September in the species' native range. These are followed by globose to cylindrical fruit with a persistent calyx.[2]

In 1770, plant material was collected at Cape Grafton, Endeavour River and Point Lookout (14°49′S 145°13′E / 14.817°S 145.217°E / -14.817; 145.217) (not to be confused with Point Lookout, also named by Cook), by botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander during Lieutenant James Cook's first voyage of discovery.[3] However, the species was not formally described until 1834 by Austrian botanist Stephan Endlicher who gave it the name Fenzlia obtusa.[4][5] The species was transferred to the genus Myrtella in 1978[6][7] and subsequently to the genus Lithomyrtus in 1999.[4][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Lithomyrtus obtusa". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b Snow, Neil; Guymer, Gordon P. (1999). "Systematic and cladistic studies of Myrtella F.Muell. and Lithomyrtus F.Muell. (Myrtaceae)". Austrobaileya. 5 (2): 173–207. JSTOR 41739139.
  3. ^ Jago, Bob. "Plants Collected by Banks & Solander in 1770 from North Queensland" (PDF). SGAP Queensland. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Lithomyrtus obtusa". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  5. ^ Endlicher, S.F.L. (1834), Atakta Botanika 3: 19, t. XVII
  6. ^ "Myrtella obtusa". Australian Plant Name Index, IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  7. ^ A.J. Scott (1978). "A New Species of Myrtella (Myrtaceae) from Australia and a Synopsis of the Genus". Kew Bulletin. 33 (2): 299-302 [300]. doi:10.2307/4109584. ISSN 0075-5974. JSTOR 4109584. Wikidata Q54801972.
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