Boronia imlayensis

Boronia imlayensis, commonly known as the Mount Imlay boronia, is a shrub of the genus Boronia which has been recorded only on the sandstone ridge near the summit of Mount Imlay, in southern New South Wales. A small shrub to 1 m (3 ft) high with pinnate leaves and pink to white flowers, it is found in eucalypt woodland.

Mount Imlay boronia
Mount Imlay Boronia, at Mount Imlay
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Boronia
Species:
B. imlayensis
Binomial name
Boronia imlayensis
Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium

Description

Boronia imlayensis grows as a small shrub to 1 m (3 ft) high. It has hairy, warty stems, and pinnate leaves, which are made up of seven to eleven smaller leaflets, each one lozenge-shaped and measuring 3.5 to 16 mm in length and 1–4 mm wide. Flowering occurs in late spring and early summer (September to December). The inflorescences are made up of three to nine small flowers which range in colour from white to a dark pink. Each flower has four petals which range from 5 to 7.5 mm in length.[2]

Taxonomy

Boronia imlayensis was first formally described in 2003 by botanist Marco Duretto in the journal Muelleria from specimens he collected on a Mt Imlay ridgetop in 1995. Its specific name refers to the place where it is found, Mount Imlay.[3]

Within the genus Boronia, this species is placed in the type series Boronia which contains well known species such as Boronia megastigma. Within this, it belongs to a group of 25 species of pinnate-leaved boronias from southeastern Australia, many of which have restricted ranges. Its relatives include B. citriodora, B. gunnii, B. latipinna, B. muelleri, B. pinnata, B. rivularis, B. safrolifera and B. thujona.[4]

Distribution and habitat

The species is found only in eucalypt woodland on a ridge atop Mount Imlay in Mount Imlay National Park near Eden in far southern New South Wales.[2]

As of April 2010 there is no official status for this rare plant,[5] despite it being found only at Mount Imlay in an area which is only 500 metres long by about 50 metres wide.

Cultivation

The species is unknown in cultivation. Boronias in general are sensitive to dieback and tend to be short-lived.

  • Mount Imlay Boronia
  • Prolific flowering in early November
  • Leaves and fruiting capsule
  • Flower
  • Boronia flowers are almost always four petaled. This is a five petaled flower of Boronia imlayensis
  • Flowers just opening in early September
  • Flowers just opening in early September

References
  1. "Boronia imlayensis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  2. Duretto MF, Weston P. "Boronia imlayensis". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 16 January 2010.
  3. Duretto, Marco F (2003). "Notes on Boronia (Rutaceae)". Muelleria. 17: 69–70. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  4. Duretto, Marco (March 2005). "Boronia: Not just pretty in pink". Australian Plants. Australian Plants Society (NSW). 23 (182): 34–45.
  5. "Biodiversity summary for Southern Rivers NSW" (PDF). Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website. Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Australian Government. 21 January 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
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