Family: Zygophyllaceae
Zygophyllum aurantiacum
Citation:
F. Muell., Linnaea 25:376 (1853).
Synonymy: Roepera aurantiaca Lindley in T.L. Mitchell, Three Exped. Int. eastern Austral. 2:70 (1838); Z. fruticulosum sensu J. Black, FI.S. Aust. 489 (1948), non DC.
Common name: Shrubby twinleaf
Description:
Subshrub with slender stems, sometimes scrambling; leaflets linear, continuous with the petiole, or leaf cuneate and deeply or shallowly 2-lobed; stipules ovate, green, with a membranous tip.
sepals 4; petals 4, obovate, 8-12 mm long, usually twice as long as the sepals, obtuse or faintly emarginate, golden- to orange-yellow; stamens 8; filaments not winged.
Fruit a schizocarp, depressed-circular in outline, 12-20 mm long, with 4 broad rounded scarious finely narrow-reticulate parallel-transverse-veined wings, splitting into 4 indehiscent cocci, each with 1 wing on the back and 1 seed (rarely 2 seeds developed).
| Zygophyllum aurantiacum fruit and leaf.
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Image source: fig 393c in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 439, fig. 53c.
Distribution:
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In a variety of habitats and on different soils, at claypan margins, on stony calcareous soils and on red and grey sand.
all mainland States.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: July — Oct.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Taxonomic notes:
There are several undescribed closely related taxa included under Z. aurantiacum in S.Aust. one of which, characterised by sessile leaves (pairs of opposite leaves form a whorl of 4 almost terete leaflets on the stem and branches), is restricted to FR and EA where it appears to hybridise occasionally with Z. aurantiacum sensu stricto. The above description and distribution includes the unclescribed taxa.
Author:
Not yet available
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