Billardiera coriacea is a species of flowering plant in the family Pittosporaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a woody scrambler or climber that has more or less oblong leaves, the flowers white to pale yellow and arranged singly or in small groups on short side shoots.

Billardiera coriacea
Near Ravensthorpe
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Pittosporaceae
Genus: Billardiera
Species:
B. coriacea
Binomial name
Billardiera coriacea
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium
Synonyms[1]

Description

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Billardiera coriacea is a woody scrambler or climber that has its new shoots covered with a few silky hairs, but later glabrous. Its young leaves are broadly elliptic, 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) wide, the adult leaves more or less oblong,40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) wide on a short petiole. The flowers are arranged singly or in small groups on a peduncle 8–14 mm (0.31–0.55 in) long. The sepals are 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and the petals white to pale yellow, later dark blue to purple, and 14–16 mm (0.55–0.63 in) long, the lobes spreading but not turned back. Flowering occurs from May to November and the mature fruit is a dark purple berry 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) long with the seeds in papery liners.[2][3]

Taxonomy

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Billardiera coriacea was first formally described in 1863 by George Bentham in Flora Australiensis.[4][5] The specific epithet (coriacea) means "leathery".[6]

Distribution and habitat

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This billardiera grows in dry woodland between Manmanning, Cunderdin, Peak Charles and Mount Arid in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee and Warren of south-western Western Australia.Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Warren.[2][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Billardiera coriacea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Billardiera coriacea". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Billardiera coriacea". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ^ "Billardiera coriacea". APNI. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. ^ Bentham, George (1863). Flora Australiensis. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 124. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  6. ^ William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 391.
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