Synaphea odocoileops
Synaphea odocoileops is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted, compact to sprawling shrub with Pinnation#Iteration of [divisions |tripartite] or pinnatipartite leaves, the end lobes linear, and spikes of openly spaced yellow flowers.
Description
Synaphea odocoileops is a tufted, compact to sprawling shrub that typically grows to a height of with stems up to long and covered with soft hairs. Its leaves are divided, tripartite or pinnatipartite, long and wide, on a petiole long, the end lobes erect, tapering linear, wide and soon become glabrous. The flowers are borne in spikes long on a peduncle up to long, the flowers widely spaced on the spikes. There are more or less glabrous bracts long at the base of the peduncle. The perianth has a more or less widely opening, the upper tepal long and wide, the lower tepal long. The stigma is egg-shaped with prominent lobes, long, wide with a sparsely hairy ovary. Flowering occurs from August to October and the fruit is oval with a short beak, long and covered with long, soft hairs.
Taxonomy
Synaphea odocoileops was first formally described in 1995 by Alex [George (botanist)|Alex George] in the Flora of [Australia (series)|Flora of Australia] from specimens he collected near the Elgin railway siding in 1993. The specific epithet means 'mule deer-like', alluding to the shape of the leaves.
Distribution and habitat
This species grows in swamps and winter-wet areas in sandy clay in kwongan and is only known from near Byford, Serpentine and Elgin in the south-west of Western Australia.
Synaphea odocoileops is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations that are potentially at risk.