Regelia

{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{for|the genus of bromeliads|Neoregelia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2011}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Regelia megacephala 0082.jpg |image_caption = ''[[Regelia megacephala]]'' [[inflorescence]] in [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne]] |display_parents = 2 |taxon = Regelia |authority = [[Johannes Conrad Schauer|Schauer]] |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = See text }}

'''''Regelia''''' is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Myrtaceae]] and is [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] to the [[Southwest_Australia|south-west]] of [[Western Australia]]. The genus is composed of five [[species]] of small leaved, [[evergreen]] shrubs which have heads of flowers on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. Another species, previously known as ''Regelia punicea'' and which is endemic to [[Kakadu National Park]] in the [[Northern Territory]], has been transferred to ''[[Melaleuca punicea]]''.

==Description== Plants in the genus ''Regelia'' are woody, evergreen shrubs ranging in height from {{convert|1-6|m|ft|sigfig=1}}. Their leaves are small, arranged in opposite pairs or spirally and are noted for bearing essential oils. Their flowers are pinkish purple, rarely red, and are arranged in heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The flowers have 5 [[sepal]]s, 5 [[petal]]s and numerous [[stamen]]s arranged in 5 bundles around the edge of the flower. In many respects, they are similar to plants in the [[genus|genera]] ''[[Melaleuca]]'', ''[[Calothamnus]]'', ''[[Conothamnus]]'' and ''[[Phymatocarpus]]'' but differ from them either in the attachment of the [[stamen|anther]]s to their stalks, the way they open to release [[pollen]], or the number of seeds in the fruits. Plants in the genus ''Regelia'' have their anthers attached at the base (rather than the side) and open at terminal pores (rather than slits). The fruits are woody [[Capsule (botany)|capsule]]s with three [[Ovary (botany)|valves]] and have a maximum of two fertile seeds in each valve.<ref name=FloraBase>{{FloraBase|name=''Regelia Schauer''|id = 21844}}</ref><ref name=Kubitzki>{{cite book|editor= K. Kubitzki |title=The families and genera of vascular plants|date=1990|publisher=Springer|location=Berlin|isbn=9783642143960|page=237|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_hHvYeQYTTEC&dq=Regelia&pg=PA237|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref>

==Taxonomy and naming== The genus ''Regelia'' was first formally described in 1843 by [[Johannes Conrad Schauer|J.C.Schauer]] in the journal ''Linnaea; Ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange''<ref name=APNI(1)>{{cite web|title=''Regelia''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/instance/apni/664504|publisher=APNI|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=Schauer>{{cite journal|last1=Schauer|first1=Johannes Conrad|title=Genera Myrtacearum nova vel denuo recognita|journal=Linnaea: Ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange.|date=1843|volume=17|pages=243–244|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/106913#page/249/mode/1up|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> and the first species he named was ''[[Regelia ciliata]]''. The name ''Regelia'' honours [[Germans|German]] gardener and [[botanist]] [[Eduard August von Regel]].<ref name="FloraBase" />

==Distribution and habitat== All five ''Regelia'' species are found in the [[Southwest Australia|South West Botanical Province]]. They grow in sand or sandy soil, often on the margins of winter-wet depressions.<ref name=Flora>{{cite book|last1=Paczkowska|first1=Grazyna|last2=Chapman|first2=Alex R.|title=The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue|date=2000|publisher=Wildflower Society of Western Australia|location=Perth|isbn=0646402439|pages=400–401}}</ref>

==Conservation== Two species, ''[[Regelia cymbifolia]]'' and ''[[Regelia megacephala]]'', are classified as "Priority Four" by the Western Australian government Department of Parks and Wildlife<ref name="FloraBase" /> meaning that they are rare or near threatened.<ref name=DPAW>{{cite web|title=Conservation codes for Western Australian flora and fauna|url=http://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/threatened-species/Listings/Conservation_code_definitions.pdf|publisher=Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref>

==Species== There are currently five recognized species of ''Regelia''. A sixth species, ''Regelia punicea'' was originally formally described in 1984 by N.B.Byrnes as ''Melaleuca punicea'',<ref name=APNI(2)>{{cite web|title=''Melaleuca punicea''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/instance/apni/27846|publisher=APNI|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> renamed ''Regelia punicea'' by B.A.Barlow in 1987,<ref name=APNI(3)>{{cite web|title=''Regelia punicea''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/instance/apni/523241|publisher=APNI|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> then ''Petraeomyrtus punicea'' by [[Lyndley Craven|L.A.Craven]] in 2010<ref name=APNI(4)>{{cite web|title=''Petraeomyrtus punicea''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/boa/instance/apni/664054|publisher=APNI|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref> and finally in 2013, returned to ''[[Melaleuca punicea]]'' by Craven on the basis of molecular data.<ref name=Brophy>{{cite book|last1=Brophy|first1=Joseph J.|last2=Craven|first2=Lyndley A.|last3=Doran|first3=John C.|title=Melaleucas : their botany, essential oils and uses|date=2013|publisher=Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research|location=Canberra|isbn=9781922137517|page=16|url=http://aciar.gov.au/files/mn156-prelims_1.pdf|accessdate=26 August 2015}}</ref>

* ''[[Regelia ciliata]]'' [[Johannes Conrad Schauer|Schauer]] ; * ''[[Regelia cymbifolia]]'' ([[Ludwig Diels|Diels]]) [[Charles Gardner (botanist)|C.A.Gardner]] ; * ''[[Regelia inops]]'' (Schauer) Schauer; * ''[[Regelia megacephala]]'' C.A.Gardner ; * ''[[Regelia velutina]]'' ([[Nikolai Turczaninow|Turcz.]]) C.A.Gardner – Barrens regelia.

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Regelia| ]] [[Category:Myrtaceae genera]] [[Category:Myrtales of Australia]] [[Category:Endemic flora of Southwest Australia]]