Table Of ContentNuytsia9(3):427-437(1994) 427
New species ofHibbertia (Dilleniaceae) fromthe northern wheathelt
area ofWestern Australia
J.R.Wheeler
WesternAustralian Herbarium, DepartmentofConservationandLandManagement,
POBox 104,Como,WesternAustralia6152
Abstract
Wheeler, J.R. New species of Hibbertia (Dilleniaceae) from the northern wheathelt area of
Western Australia. Nuytsia9 (3): 427-439 (1994). H. lividula, H. glabriuscula, H. graniticola and
H. arcuata fromthenorthernwheatheltareaofWesternAustraliaaredescribedandillustrated. The
placementofH. lividula in section Hibbertia subsection Bracteataeand H. glabriuscula in section
Hibbertia subsection Ochrolasiae is discussed. The relationship between H. graniticola and
H. arcuata is alsoexamined.
Introduction
ThegenusHibbertiaAndr. containsseveralasyetundescribedspeciesinWesternAustralia. In
1983and1984,PhilRoberts,whowasthenCALMDistrictWildlifeOfficerforWonganHills,brought
H. lividula tomy attention withhiscollectionsofthisspeciesfromDalgouring, Beacon andWialki
in the northern wheatheltareaofWesternAustralia. Furtherstudies confirmed thatthis wasanew
speciesrelatedtoH. commutataSteudel. ShortlyafterwardsafurthernewspeciesfromtheCarrabin
area, H. glabriuscula, which is clearly related to H. drummondii and also two other new species,
H. graniticola and H. arcuata, came to my attention. The latterthree are also taxaofthe northern
wheatheltareaofWesternAustralia.
Descriptions
1. HibbertialividulaJ.R. Wheeler, sp. nov. (Figure 1)
Frutexplerumquemulti-caulisfoliislividis.Stamina30-40,libra,ovariaaequalitercircumdantia,
postdeuminfasciculisquinqueaequalibuscarpellisalternantibusdisposita.Carpellaquinque,glabra.
Typus: 8 km east of Beacon, Western Australia, 19 July 1989, J.R. Wheeler 2624 (holo: PERTH
03453626;iso: AD, CANB, K,MEL,NSW).
5
428 NuytsiaVol.9,No. 3(1994)
Erectorsprawlingshrubto0.6mhigh,usuallymulti-stemmed,withanindumentumofcurledor
twistedhairsand usually alsosomestraighthairs. Youngbranchletsthinly hairy. Leavesalternate,
subsessile,bluishgrey, narrowly elliptic to narrowlyoblongornarrowlyobovate, (5)7-15 x 1.5-3.
mm, sparsely hairy above and below, gradually tapered to the base, margins slightly to distinctly
mm
recurved,apexobtuse. Flowerssolitary,terminalandterminatingshortbranchlets,sessile, 12-25
mm
indiameter. Bractsimbricate,darkbrownandscarious, 1.5-3 long;outermostbractswithshort
appressed hairs at least in the upper half, acuminate or less often terminating in a small leaf-like
projection;innermostbractssparselyhairy,obtusetoobtuselyacuminate. Sepals5,moreorlessequal
inlength,connateonlyattheextremebase,5-9x3-5mm,thehairssomewhatappressed;outersepals
ovate-elliptic,moderatelytodenselyhairy, apexobtusetosubacute; innersepalselliptic,sparselyto
moderatelyhairyexceptforaglabroussubmarginalband,marginciliolate,apexobtuse. Petals5,free,
golden yellow, obovate to obcordate, 6-15 x 4-9 mm, emarginate. Stamens 30-40, free, evenly
distributed but the filament apices and anthers falling into 5 groups between the carpels; filaments
slender, 1.5-2.5 mm long; anthers obovate and truncate apically, 0.7-1.2 mm long, opening by
subterminal obliquepores; staminodes absent,althoughoccasional unusually smallstamensmaybe
mm
present. Carpels5,glabrous;ovulesusually2,rarely3;style 1.5-3 long,arisingfromtheadaxial
sideofthecarpelandradiatingoutwards;stigmaminutely 2-lobed. Fruitnotseen.
Otherspecimensexamined(allPERTH). WESTERNAUSTRALIA: NorthofWatherooandeastof
BryantPark, 23July \965,J.C. Anway 159; 8 miles northofWialki, 16July 1967,J.S. Beard4727;
SeymourRd,eastofMiling, 12August1972,5. PaM5fll08A;EastBeacon, 11 May \9^A,P.Roberts
s.n.', Dalgouring Townsite reserve, 31 May 1983, P. Roberts s.n.; Wialki West, 19 July 1984,
P. Roberts s.n.; Dalgouring, 30° 30’S, 118° 13E, 8 June 1984, B.H. Smith 366; 0,6 miles east of
Dalgouring, 8June \9^4,B.H.Smith367; 11 kmeastofBeacon, l9July 1989,7./?. Wheeler2625; 11
km east of Beacon, 19 July 1989, J.R. Wheeler 2626; 3 km north of Beacon-Wialki Rd along
DalgouringRd, 19July 1989,7./?. W/jee/er2627;3.5kmnorthofBeacon-WialkiRdalongDalgouring
Rd, 19July 1989,7./?. Wheeler262S; 10kmsoutheastofBeacon(31 kmnorthofMandigaRd,along
Mandiga-MarindoRd),20July 1989,7./?. Wheeler2630; 15kmwestofMollerinonBurakin-Wialki
Rd, 20 July 1989, J.R. Wheeler 2633; 5 km west of Kulja on Burakin-Wialki Rd, 20 July 1989,
J.R. Wheeler2635.
Distribution. South-westAustralia, AvonDistrictbetweenWatherooandWialki.
Habitat. Occurson sand, loamorlateriticsand, inEucalyptuswandoo woodland, malleewoodland
withAcac/flandAllocasuarina speciesorAcaciashrubland.
Floweringperiod. HowersMayto Septembej.
Affinities. Hibbertia lividulawithitsfree stamensarrangedaroundglabrouscarpelsclearlybelongs
tothesectionHibbertia,subsectionBracteatae(Bentham 1863). MembersofsubsectionBracteatae
typically have broad dark brown scarious bracts, free stamens which although evenly distributed
aroundglabrouscarpelsfallintogroupsalternatingwiththecarpels. H. lividulaisrelatedtoandhas
many attributes in common with H. commutata Steudel and H. serrata Hotchk. (Wheeler 1984).
Howeveritdiffersfromallknownspeciesofthis subsection inhaving5 ratherthan 3carpels.
Conservationstatus. Thepopulations have notbeen fully surveyedbutthis speciesdoesnotappear
tobeunderthreat.
Etymology. Thespecificepithetrefers tothebluishgreycolourofthefoliage.
J.R. Wheeler, Hibbertia 429
Figure1. Hibbertialividula A-floweringbranch(scalebar= 10nun),withenlargementofbudandbracts
(scalebar=5mm),B-stamensandcarpels(scalebar= 1 mm).
430 NuytsiaVol.9,No.3(1994)
2. Hibbertia glabriusculaJ.R. Wheeler, sp. nov. (Figure2)
Ex affinitateH. drummondiised sepalisetbracteissinepilisvillosisaureo-fuscis.
Typus: c. 24km southofCarrabin,HacklingRd, 14kmeastofjunction withBurracoppinSouthRd,
WesternAustralia,26September1989,7./?. W/iee/er2638(holo:PERTH03453588;iso:AD,CANB,
K, MEL).
Smallerectshrubto0.5 mhigh. Youngbranchletsglabrous. Leavesalternate,subsessileorwith
a very short hairy petiole to 0.3 mm long, oblong to oblong-elliptic and thick, 2-5.5 x 1-1.3 mm,
glabrousorsparselyscabrouswithsimpleforward-projectinghairsarisingfromslightprotuberances,
margin recurved and connate to the thick broad midrib completely hiding the lower surface, apex
obtuse. Flowerssolitary,terminal, 10-20mmindiameter;peduncle 1-3mm long, withshortsimple
mm
hairs; bracts several on the peduncle, narrowly elliptic, 1-3.5 long, sepal-like in texture and
indumentum. Sepals5,connateonlybasally, elliptictobroadlyelliptic,4-7x2-5 mm, moreorless
equal insizealthoughtheoutermostsometimesslightly narrowerandmoreacute,glabroustothinly
hairywithsimplehairsoutside,appressedhairyatleastapicallyinside, marginciliolate, apexobtuse
orsubacute. Petals5, obovate. 6-10x4-7mm,emarginate. Stamens6-12,free, arrangedall around
mm mm
thecarpels;filamentsslender, 1-1.7 long;anthersoblong, 1-1.7 long,openingbylongitudinal
slits;staminodesabsent. Cnrpe/j2,ellipsoid, 1.2-1.5xc. 1 mm,glabrous;ovules4or6;styleatlength
mm
radiatingoutwards, 2.5-3.5 long. Fruitnotseen.
Otherspecimensexamined(allPERTH). WESTERNAUSTRALIA: nolocalitygiven,nodategiven
J.S. Beard62\2>\24kmSSECarrabin,floraandfaunareserveonlandsurveyblocksnos.969and975,
15-17September1982,A.Strid20307;c.24kmsouthofCarrabin,HacklingRd, 14kmeastofjunction
with Burracoppin South Rd, 26 September 1989, J.R. Wheeler 2639; c. 24 km south ofCarrabin,
HacklingRd, 14 km eastofjunction with Burracoppin SouthRd,26September 1989,J.R. Wheeler
2640;c. 24 km south ofCarrabin, Hackling Rd, 14kmeastofjunction withBurracoppin SouthRd,
26 September 1989,7./?. VTftee/er264l;c.24kmsouthofCarrabin,HacklingRd,14kmeastofjunction
withBurracoppinSouthRd,26September1989,7./?. Wheeler2642',c.25kmsouthofCarrabin,Pink
Rd,c. 1 kmsouthofjunctionwithHacklingRd,26September1989,7./?. Wheeler2645',c.25kmsouth
ofCarrabin,PinkRd,c. 1 kmsouthofjunction withHackling Rd, 26September 1989,J.R. Wheeler
2646; c. 23 km south ofCarrabin, Hackling Rd, 8 km east ofjunction with Burracoppin South Rd,
26 September 1989, J.R. W/iee/er2647;c.20kmSSEofCarrabin,DellaRd,c. 1 kmnorthofjunction
withHacklingRd, 26 September 1989,J.R. Wheeler2649.
Distribution. South westAustralia, AvonDistrict, recordedonly fromsouthofCarrabin.
Habitat. Occurs on yellowsand in heathorshrubland.
Floweringperiod. Flowers recorded forSeptember.
Affinities. HibbertiaglabriusculaseemsmostcloselyrelatedtoH. drummondiiandclearlybelongs
withthatspeciesinsectionHibbertia,subsectionOchrolasiae. H.glabriusculadiffersmarkedlyfrom
H. drummondii in the absence ofthe conspicuous long golden brown hairs which characteristically
clothethesepalsandbractsofthelatterspecies. ThesepalsandbractsofH.glabriusculaareglabrous
tothinlyhairyoutsideandwithappressedhairstowardstheapexoftheinnersurface. H.drummondii
also differs in its usually glabrous and smooth leaves, slightly larger flowers with more numerous
(15-18) stamens andlargercarpelseach with6-8ovules.
J.R.Wheeler, Hibbertia 431
Figure2. Hibbertiaglabriuscula A-floweringbranch(scalebar= 10mm),B-leaf,abaxialandadaxialviews
(scalebar= 1 mm),C-bud(scalebar=2mm),withenlargementtoshowminutehairssometimespresenton
sepals(scalebar=1 mm),D-stamensandcarpels(scalebar= 1 mm).
;
432 NuytsiaVol.9,No. 3(1994)
Conservationstatus. CALMConservationCodesforWesternAustralianFlora:PriorityTwo-Poorly
KnownTaxa. Surveyworkisnecessarytosearchforfurtherpopulationsbeforeacompletestatement
can be made on itsconservationstatus.
Etymology.Thespecificepithetreferstotheabsenceoflongconspicuoushairsonthesepalsandbracts
thesehairsarepresentonthesepalsandbractsofitsclosestTe\aU\e,Hibbertiadrummondii.Although
there are frequently minute hairs present in H. glabriuscula it is, in comparison to H. drummondii,
almostglabrous.
3. HibbertiagraniticolaJ.R. Wheeler, sp. nov. (Figure3)
Frutex;piliindumentibreviterstellati. Foliarecta,pungentia. Stamina17-30carpellacircumdantia,
versus basim irregulariterconnata. Carpella (2)3, dense stellato-pilosa; ovula (8)10 in unoquoque
carpelloposita.
Typus:RockNWofWarralakin,3.5kmalongEnglishRdfromjunctionwithEchoValleyRd,Western
Australia,21 September1988,J.R. Wheeler2599(holo:PERTH03453618;iso:AD,CANB,K,MEL).
Shrubto1.5mhigh,withaminutebutdenseindumentumonyoungbranchlets,petioles,bractsand
sepalsofshortstellatehairsinwhichthecentreofthehairisslightly fused.Leavesspirallyarranged
mm
andcrowdedespeciallytowardsthetipsofthebranchlets;petiole 1-1.5 long;bladestraight,linear
butthickwiththetruemarginsrecurvedandfusedtothemidrib, 10-20x 1.2-1.5 mm;uppersurface
flatorslightlyconcave,glabrous; lowersurfaceconvex withaprominentlyraisedmidrib,glabrous;
mm
edgescoarselyscabrouswithforwardpointingsimplehairs;apexalongpungentmucro1-1.5 long.
mm
Flowerssolitary,terminatingshortbranchlets,sessile,20-35 indiameter. Bractsinconspicuous,
mm
leaf-like, 9-12 long. Sepals 5, connate basally, densely and shortly stellate-hairy, the margin
mm
ciliolate with somewhatcurled hairs, apexpungentwith a mucro 0.5-2 long; outermostsepals
elliptic, 12-16x4-8mm;innermostsepalsbroadlyelliptic, 12-16x7-11mmandwithaminutelyhairy
to glabrous submarginal band. Petals 5, golden yellow, obovate, 14-20 x 4-8 mm, emarginate.
Stamens17-30,arrangedallaroundthecarpels,irregularlyconnatetowardsthebaseforthebasal0.5-1
mm;filamentsslender,4-6mmlong;anthersveryslender,narrowlyelliptic,3-4mmlong,openingby
longitudinal slits; staminodes usually absent. Carpels usually 3 but sometimes 2, ovoid, densely
mm
stellate-hairy;ovules(8)10percarpel,placentationmarginal;styleslender,4-5 long,arisingfrom
theabaxial sideofthecarpel. Fruitsdry,splittingapicallyandadaxiallytoreleasetheseeds. Seeds
orange-brown, shiny,transverselyellipsoid, 2.5-3x 1.5-2.5 mm, withawhite waxy aril.
Otherspecimensexamined(all PERTH). WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Chutawalakin Hill, (southern
edge) 3 September 1989, R. Cranfield & P. Spencer 7694A; 1.5 km W of southern boundary of
ChiddarcoopingNatureReserve, 11 September 1989, R. Cranfield& P. Spencer7801; NWsection
ChiddarcoopingNatureReserve,September 1989,R. Cranfield&P. Spencer7820;Chiddarcooping
NatureReserve,2.55kmWNWofChiddarcoopingHill,7November 1990,F.H. &M.P. Mollemans
3784; Warralakin Rock, 14 August 1970, E. Parkin s.n., ChiddarcoopingNature Reserve, site 38,
1 October 1984,A.S. Weston14162;ChiddarcoopingNatureReserve,5November 1984,A.S. Weston
14493; Rock NW of Warralakin, 3.5 km along English Rd from Junction with Echo Valley Rd,
21 September 1988,7./?. Wheeler2598.
Distribution. South-westAustralia,AvonDistrict, inthe northernwheatbelt nearWarralakin.
J.R.Wheeler, Hibbertia 433
Figure3. Hibbertiagraniticola A-floweringbranch(scalebar= 10mm),B-leaf,C-sepal(B&Cscalebars= 5mm),
D-stamensandcarpels(scalebar=2.5mm).
434 NuytsiaVol.9,No, 3(1994)
Habitat. Restrictedtosandpocketsongraniticoutcropsorsurroundingthebaseofgraniteoutcrops,
usually in shrubland.
Floweringperiod. Flowers Augustto September. FruitsrecordedforNovember.
Ajfinities. HibbertiagraniticolaiscloselyrelatedtoH.arcuatadifferingprimarilyinitslongerstraight
leaves, largerflowers and (2)3carpelswith (8)10ovulespercarpel. SeeunderH. arcuata.
Conservationstatus. Thisisataxonknownfromoneorafew(generallylessthan5)populations, at
leastsomeofwhicharenotbelievedtobeunderimmediatethreat(i.e. notcurrentlyendangered)and
designatedasaPriorityTwotaxonofCALM.ThistaxonhaspreviouslybeenreferredtoasHibbertia
sp. Chiddarcooping(R.J. Cranfield7820).
Etymology. The specificepithetrefers to thefactthatthe species is apparently restricted togranite
rocks.
4.HibbertiaarcuataJ.R. Wheeler, sp. nov. (Figure4)
Frutex; pili indumenti breviter stellati. Folia recurva, pungentia. Stamina 15-28 carpella
circumdantia,omniovelferelibera. Carpella2,densestellato-pilosa;ovula6-8inunoquoquecarpello
posita.
Typus: 13.4kmEofKalannieon Kuljaroad. WesternAustralia, 19 September 1988, J.R. Wheeler
2579 (holo: PERTH03453596; iso: AD, CANB, K, MEL).
Shrubto 1.3 m high, withaminuteindumentumonyoungbranchlets,petioles,bractsandsepals
ofshortstellatehairs in whichthecentreofthehairis slightly fusedandscale-like. Leavesspirally
mm
arranged,notusuallycrowded;petiole0.3-0.8 long;bladedistinctlytoslightlyrecurved,narrowly
oblong-elliptictonarrowlyovate-elliptic,thickwiththetruemarginsrecurvedandfusedtothemidrib,
4-8 X 1-1.5 mm, uppersurfaceminutely scabrous withforwardpointingsimplehairs, lowersurface
mm
glabrous with a prominently raised midrib, apex a long pungent mucro 1-1.5 long. Flowers
mm
solitary,terminatingshortbranchlets,sessile, 12-20 indiameter. Bractsinconspicuous,leaf-like,
4-6mmlong. Sepals5,connatebasally,stellate-hairy,marginciliolatewithsomewhatcurledhairs;
outermostsepalselliptictobroadlyelliptic,5-8x3-4mmincludingamucro1-1.3mmlong;innermost
mm mm
sepalsbroadlyelliptic,6-9x4-6 includingamucro0.5-1 long,withaglabrousorverysparsely
hairysubmarginalband.Petals5,goldenyellow,obovate,5-11 x5-9mm,emarginate.Stamens15-28,
mm
arrangedallaroundthecarpels,freeorconnateonlybasally;filaments I-2.5 long;antherselliptic
toovate-elliptic, 1.5-2.5mmlong,openingbylongitudinalslits;staminodesabsentorsometimesafew
stamensreducedinsizeandperhapsnon-functional. Carpels2,ovoid,denselystellate-hairy;ovules
mm
6or8percarpel,placentationmarginal;styleslender,3-4.5 long,arisingfromtheabaxialsideof
thecarpel. Fruitsdry, splitting apically and adaxiallytorelease theseeds. Immatureseedsorange-
brown, shiny, transverselyellipsoid, withawhite waxy aril.
Otherspecimensexamined(allPERTH). WESTERNAUSTRALIA: HalfwaybetweenPaynesFind
andPerenjori, 31 August 1975,A.M. Ashby5221;Emu fenceNofCleary, 16July 1967,J.S. Beard
4714; Pindar, E ofMullewa, 16 September 1931, W.E. Blaclcall 667; Between Mt Churchman and
Beacon, 13 October 1937, W.E. Blackall 3453; Dromedaries, near Mt Churchman, October 1937,
W.E. Blackalls.n.. Between Mullewaand Morowa, August 1959,A.M. Bairds.n., 216 km fromMt
MagnetonGeraldtonRd, 22August 1963, T. Chadwick 1671;73 milesfromPaynesFindtoWubin,
J.R. Wheeler, Hibbertia 435
Figure4.Hibbertiaarcuata A-floweringbranch(scalebar= 10mm),B-leaf,C-sepal(B&Cscalebars=5mm),
D-stamensandcarpels(scalebar=2.5mm).
436 NuytsiaVol.9,No.3(1994)
October1965,/./?.A'nox651038;52.4kmfromWubintowardsMtMagnet,28July 1974,5./?.Maslin
3538; WilroyReserve29196, 16 km SSEofMullewa,4June 1977,B.G. Muir 544; ?Wyalkatchem
area, 17September 1965,5.5. /?05'ier336; 13.4kmEofKalannieonKuljaroad, 19September 1988,
J.R. Wheeler2519’,NorthwestofBeacon,21.6kmnorthalongBimbijyRdtowardsMtChurchman,
20September 1988,J.R. Wheeler25^9’, SoutheastofBeacon,Gilletroad6km southfromjunction
withFaulknerroad, 19July 1989,/.5. Wheeler2622.
Distribution. South-westAustralia,AvonDistrict,inthenorthernwheatbeltfromMullewaandPindar
easttowardsPaynesFindand southto nearBeacon, andpossibly theWyalkatchem area.
Habitat. Acacia shrubland, Allocasuarina shrubland or Eucalyptus woodland, on yellow to brown
sandorloam.
Floweringperiod. FlowersJulytoOctober. FruitsrecordedforOctober.
Ajfinities. Hibbertia arcuata is closely related to H. graniticola, differing primarily in its shorter
recurved leaves, smallerflowers and presence ofonly 2 carpels each with 6 or 8 ovules. However
H. graniticolaandH.arcuatoclearlyhavemanyfeaturesincommon. Theirleavesaresimilarinform
andboth havelongpungentapices. Theflowersaresolitaryterminatingshortshootsandsubtended
by inconspicuousleaf-likebracts whichgrade into the leaves. The sepals are similarinshape with
similar indumentum and similar pungent apices. The stamens are similar in shape and type, are
arrangedallaroundthecarpelsandhavethesameformofdehiscence. Staminodesareusuallyabsent,
althoughoccasionallysomesmallerandpossibly non-functionalstamensmaybefound. Thecarpels
are similar in shape and indumentum. Ovules although usually different in number are similar in
placentation.
The morphological differences between the closely related H. graniticola and H. arcuata are
summarisedin thetablebelow.
Hibbertiagraniticola Hibbertiaarcuata
mm mm
Leaves Straight, 10-20 long Recurved,4-8 long
mm mm
Flowersize 20-35 indiameter 12-20 in diameter
mm mm
Sepal length 12-16 long 5-9 long
Sepal apex Mucro notorscarcely Mucroofoutersepals
longerinoutersepals distinctly longerthan
thatofinnersepals
mm mm
Petals 13-20 long 5-11 long
Stamens Irregularly fusedfor Freeoralmostso
mm
basal 0.5-1
mm mm
Staminalfdaments 4-6 long 1-2.5 long
Anthers Narrowly elliptic and Elliptictoovate-elliptic
mm mm
3-4 long and 1.5-2.5 long
Carpel number 3, lessoften2 2
Ovule number 10, morerarely 8 6or8 percarpel
percarpel
