Maireana diffusa
Maireana diffusa is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, and is endemic to Western Australia. It is an erect or straggly, widely branched shrub with oval leaves, the narrower end towards the base, and longer cigar-shaped leaves, bisexual flowers arranged singly, and a top-shaped fruiting perianth with fan-shaped wings.
Description
Maireana diffusa is an erect or straggly, widely branched shrub that typically grows to a height of up to and has slender branchlets covered with a few woolly hairs when young. The leaves on short side branches are arranged alternately, oval with the narrower end towards the base, about long. The leaves on the erect branches are narrowly cigar-shaped, up to long. Its flowers are bisexual and are arranged singly and glabrous, with two bracteoles long at the base. The fruiting perianth has a thin-walled tube about in diameter with 5 thin, fan-shaped wings about long.
Taxonomy
Maireana diffusa was first formally described in 1975 by Paul Wilson in the journal Nuytsia from specimens he collected near Cowcowing Lakes in 1968. The specific epithet means 'spread out' or 'diffuse'.
Distribution and habitat
This species of Maireana grows in saline soils near salt lakes between Dalwallinu and Merredin in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie and Murchison bioregions of Western Australia.
Conservation status
Maireana diffusa is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and [Attractions (Western Australia)|Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions].