Levenhookia octomaculata

Levenhookia octomaculata
Conservation status
Priority Three — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
clade:	Angiosperms
clade:	Eudicots
clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Stylidiaceae
Genus:	Levenhookia
Section:	Coleostylis
Species:	L. octomaculata
Binomial name
Levenhookia octomaculata F.L.Erickson & J.H.Willis

Levenhookia octomaculata, the dotted stylewort or eight-spotted stylewort, is a dicotyledonous plant that belongs to the genus Levenhookia (family Stylidiaceae). The specific epithet octomaculata refers to the eight red dots this plant produces on each flower. It is an ephemeral annual that grows from 4 to 10 cm tall with a simple or branched stem. There are very few leaves that are obovate to spathulate and mostly around the base of the stem. Scapes are umbellate and dark-coloured. Flowers are bright pink with white throats and two red dots borne on each petal. L. octomaculata blooms from September to October in its native range. It is endemic to Western Australia. Its habitat has been reported as being sandy soils in open Acacia acuminata or Eucalyptus wandoo forests in compact colonies. Because this species is known from several populations that are not believed to be under immediate threat but are poorly known, this species has been declared a priority three species, which means it is under consideration for rare status but more information must be gathered first.^[1][2]

References

1. ^ Paczkowska, Grazyna. (1996). Levenhookia octomaculata F.L. Erickson & J.H. Willis. FloraBase, Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. Accessed online: 11 August 2007.
2. ^ Erickson, R. and Willis, J.H. (1956). Critical notes on Australian Stylidiaceae, with descriptions of three new species and two new varieties. Victorial Naturalist, 72: 130-136.