Dicliptera maclearii

Dicliptera maclearii
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Dicliptera
Species: D. maclearii
Binomial name
Dicliptera maclearii
Hemsl.[1]

Dicliptera maclearii is a species of plant in the family Acanthaceae which is endemic to Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the north-eastern Indian Ocean. Its specific epithet honours John Maclear, captain of the survey vessel HMS Flying Fish, which visited Christmas Island in 1886.[2]

Description

Dicliptera maclearii is an erect herb with small pink flowers growing to 1 m in height. Its leaves are lanceolate to ovate, acuminate or spine-tipped, 20–70 mm long and 5–30 mm wide. It closest relative is D. ciliata.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Found only on Christmas Island, it is common in places on the lower terraces of the island, including at Flying Fish Cove and North West Point.[2]

References

Notes

  1. Hemsley (1890).
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Flora of Australia Online.

Sources