Maireana diffusa
| Maireana diffusa | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Maireana |
| Species: | M. diffusa
|
| Binomial name | |
| 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
[edit]Maireana diffusa is an erect or straggly, widely branched shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) 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 3 mm (0.12 in) long. The leaves on the erect branches are narrowly cigar-shaped, up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long. Its flowers are bisexual and are arranged singly and glabrous, with two bracteoles 0.7 mm (0.028 in) long at the base. The fruiting perianth has a thin-walled tube about 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter with 5 thin, fan-shaped wings about 2 mm (0.079 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
[edit]Maireana diffusa was first formally described in 1975 by Paul Wilson in the journal Nuytsia from specimens he collected near Cowcowing Lakes in 1968.[5] The specific epithet (diffusa) means 'spread out' or 'diffuse'.[6]
Distribution and habitat
[edit]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.[3][4]
Conservation status
[edit]Maireana diffusa is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ "Maireana diffusa". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ Wilson, Paul G. "Maireana diffusa". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ a b Wilson, Paul G. (1975). "A Taxonomic Revision of the genus Maireana (Chenopodiaceae)". Nuytsia. 2 (1): 23. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ a b c "Maireana diffusa". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Maireana diffusa". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
- ^ George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 183. ISBN 9780958034180.