{{short description|Species of plant}} {{Speciesbox |name = |image = |image_caption = |genus = Philotheca |species = ericifolia |authority = (A.Cunn. ex Benth.) Paul G.Wilson<ref name=APC>{{cite web|title=''Philotheca ericifolia''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/154743|publisher=Australian Plant Census|accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref> |synonyms_ref = <ref name="APC" /> |synonyms = * ''Eriostemon ericifolius'' <small>A.Cunn. ex Benth.</small> }} '''''Philotheca ericifolia''''' is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is a much-branched shrub with glandular-warty branchlets, needle-shaped leaves and white to pink flowers arranged singly or in groups of up to six on the ends of the branchlets.
==Description== ''Philotheca ericifolia'' is a much-branched, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of {{cvt|1–2|m}} and has glandular-warty branchlets. The leaves are needle-shaped, {{cvt|4–8|mm}} long, sparsely glandular warty and channelled on the upper surface. The flowers are borne singly or in clusters of up to six on the ends of the branchlets, each flower on a pedicel {{cvt|2–3|mm}} long. There are five fleshy, triangular sepals {{cvt|1.5–2|mm}} long and five elliptical white petals about {{cvt|9|mm}} long with a thick midrib. The ten stamens are densely hairy. Flowering occurs in spring and the fruit is {{cvt|2–3|mm}} long with a tapered beak.<ref name="FoA">{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Paul G. |last2=Wilson |first2=Annette J.G. (ed.) |title=Flora of Australia (Volume 26) |date=2013 |publisher=Australian Biological Resources Study |location=Canberra |page=378 |url=https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Philotheca%20ericifolia|accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="RBGS">{{cite web |last1=Weston |first1=Peter H.|last2=Harden |first2=Gwen J.|title=''Philotheca ericifolia'' |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Philotheca~ericifolia |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney |accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="OEH">{{cite web |title=''Philotheca ericifolia'' |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10621 |publisher=New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage |accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref>
==Taxonomy and naming== This species was first formally described in 1863 by George Bentham from an unpublished description by Allan Cunningham who gave it the name ''Eriostemon ericifolius''. Bentham published the description in ''Flora Australiensis''. Cunningham collected the type specimens in "on the skirts of the Liverpool Plains" in 1825.<ref name=APNI1>{{cite web|title=''Eriostemon ericifolius''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/470747|publisher=APNI|accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="Benth.">{{cite book |last1=Bentham |first1=George |last2=von Mueller |first2=Ferdinand |title=Flora Australiensis |date=1863 |publisher=Lovell Reeve & Co. |location=London |pages=335–336 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/3669#page/393/mode/1up |accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref>
In 1998, Wilson changed the name to ''Philotheca ericifolia'' in the journal ''Nuytsia''.<ref name=APNI>{{cite web|title=''Philotheca ericifolia''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/556911 |publisher=APNI|accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="Nuytsia">{{cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=Paul G. |title=A Taxonomic Review of the genera ''Eriostemon'' and ''Philotheca'' |journal=Nuytsia |date=1998 |volume=12 |issue=2 |page=251|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/226456#page/97/mode/1up |accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== ''Philotheca ericifolia'' grows in heath and forest, mainly in damp sandy flats and gullies. It is found in the upper Hunter Valley and in the northern Pilliga scrub.<ref name="FoA" /><ref name="RBGS" />
==Conservation status== This philotheca was previously classified as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government ''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999'' and the New South Wales Government ''Threatened Species Conservation Act'' but has been delisted from both.<ref name="OEH" /><ref name="environment">{{cite web |title=Listing advice ''Philotheca ericifolia'' |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/64942-listing-advice-04072019.pdf |publisher=Australian Government Department of the Environment |accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref><ref name="DPIE">{{cite web |title=''Philotheca ericifolia'' - removal from vulnerable species list |url=https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/threatened-species/nsw-threatened-species-scientific-committee/determinations/final-determinations/2008-2010/philotheca-ericifolia-removal-from-vulnerable-species-list |publisher=New South Wales Government Department of Planning, Industry and Environment |accessdate=3 August 2020}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q18076206}}
ericifolia Category:Flora of New South Wales Category:Sapindales of Australia Category:Plants described in 1863 Category:Taxa named by Allan Cunningham (botanist)