Argophyllum iridescens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Argophyllum iridescens | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Argophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Argophyllum |
| Species: | A. iridescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Argophyllum iridescens | |
Argophyllum iridescens is a plant in the Argophyllaceae family endemic to a small part of north eastern Queensland. It was described and named in 2018.
Etymology
This species was first described, along with a number of other new species in this genus, in 2018 by the Australian botanists Anthony Bean and Paul Forster who published it in the Journal Austrobaileya. The type specimen was collected by Forster in 1999 at Mount Hedly, near Rossville, Queensland.[3][4]
The genus name Argophyllum is derived from Ancient Greek Árgos meaning white or shining, and phúllon meaning leaf. It refers to the white colouration of the underside of the leaves.[3] The species epithet iridescens is from the Latin iridēscēns (iridescent), referring to very shiny undersurface of the leaves.[2][3]
Distribution and habitat
A. iridescens is restricted to two small disjunct populations in the Wet Tropics of Queensland. The more northerly population occurs around Mount Hedly, south of Cooktown; the other is in the vicinity of Noah Creek, between the Daintree River and Cape Tribulation.[3][4] It inhabits granite outcrops on the margins of rainforest at elevations between 400 and 500 m (1,310 and 1,640 ft).[3][4]
