Philotheca apiculata

Philotheca apiculata is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with narrow club-shaped leaves and small clusters of white to pink flowers on the ends of branchlets.

Description

Philotheca apiculata is a shrub that grows to a height of with stems that develop a wax-like substance. The leaves are narrow club-shaped, long with warty glands and ending with a black point. The flowers are borne singly or in groups of up to two to four on the ends of the branchlets, each flower on a pedicel long. There are five triangular sepals about long and five oblong white to pink petals about long. There are ten stamens each that are free from each other and reddish near the tip. Flowering occurs from July to September and the fruit is long and beaked.

Taxonomy and naming

This philotheca was first formally described in 1970 by Paul Wilson who gave it the name Eriostemon apiculatus and published the description in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected near Norseman. In 1998, Wilson changed the name to Philotheca apiculata in the same journal.

Distribution and habitat

Philotheca apiculata grows on ultramafic rock near Holleton Important [Bird Area|Holleton] and Norseman in Western Australia.

Conservation status

This species is classified as "Declared Rare and [Priority Flora List|Priority One]" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.