Symonanthus bancroftii

Symonanthus bancroftii, also known as Bancroft's Symonanthus, is a species of flowering plant in the potato family that is endemic to Australia.

Etymology

The specific epithet bancroftii honours Queensland surgeon Joseph Bancroft for his pharmacological research on Australian plants.

Description

The species grows as an erect shrub to 1 m in height, covered with grey hairs. The oval leaves are 8 mm long and 4.5 mm wide. The flowers are dull yellow-green, with the corolla 5–6 mm long. The fruit is a shiny round red berry 5–10 mm in diameter.

Distribution and habitat

Bancroft's Symonanthus is very rare and known only from a few localities in the south-eastern Wheatbelt region of south-west Western Australia.

Conservation

The species is listed as Endangered under Australia's EPBC Act.