{{Short description|Family of shrubs}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{automatic taxobox |image = Tetratheca hirsuta gnangarra.JPG |image_caption = ''Tetratheca hirsuta'' |taxon = Tetratheca |authority = Sm. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = See text |}} [[File:Tetratheca thymifolia 01.jpg|thumb|right|''Tetratheca thymifolia'']]
'''''Tetratheca''''' is a genus of around 50 to 60 species of shrubs endemic to Australia. It is classified in the botanical family Elaeocarpaceae, now known to encompass the family Tremandraceae, which the genus originally belonged to. It occurs throughout extratropical Australia, and has been recorded in every mainland state except the Northern Territory.<ref name=EJ10>{{cite book |author1=Elliot, Rodger W. |author2=Jones, David L. |author3=Blake, Trevor |title=Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Volume 9 – Sp-Z|year=2010 |publisher=Lothian Press |location=Port Melbourne |isbn=978-0-7344-0974-4 |pages=227, 233–34}}</ref>
== Origin and evolution == The origin of the genus is thought to be south-western Western Australia, radiating eastward. The distribution of ''Tetratheca'' is mainly across the temperate southern part of the continent. Most species are localised endemics and are highly disjunct from each other. Very few are widespread across Australia; none occurs in the Nullarbor Plain and only seven are found on both the western and the south-eastern sides.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McPherson|first=H|date=2008|others=Crayn, D., Gross, C., Rossetta, M.|title=Phylogentics and Evolutionary Dynamics of 'Tetratheca' (Elaeocarpaceae)|journal=University of New England|hdl=1959.11/2609}}</ref> (McPherson, 2008). The formation of the Nullarbor is thought to have created a barrier to dispersal between the east and west.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Thompson|first=Joy|date=1976-12-10|title=A revision of the genus Tetratheca (Tremandraceae)|journal=Telopea|volume=1|issue=3|pages=139–215|doi=10.7751/telopea19763301|issn=0312-9764|doi-access=free}}</ref>
It is estimated that the family Elaeocarpaceae is 120 million years old and Tetratheca estimated to be around 37 to 39 million years old, with major diversification over the Miocene and evolving much faster than their relatives, many of which are rainforest species. This coincides with the rapid radiation and diversification of other sclerophyllous groups.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last1=Crayn|first1=D.M|last2=Rossetto|first2=M|last3=Maynard|first3=D. J|date=2006|title=Molecular phylogeny and dating reveals an Oligo-Miocene radiation of dry-adapted shrubs (former Tremandraceae) from rainforest tree progenitors (Elaeocarpaceae) in Australia |journal= American Journal of Botany|volume=93|issue=9|pages=1328–42|doi=10.3732/ajb.93.9.1328|pmid=21642198|doi-access=free}}</ref>
==Species==
Species include:<ref name=APNI>{{cite web |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=TETRATHECA|title=''Tetratheca'' |access-date=2008-09-14|work= Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database|publisher = Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra}}</ref>
*''Tetratheca affinis''<small> Endl.</small> *''Tetratheca aphylla''<small> F.Muell.</small> - Bungalbin tetratheca *''Tetratheca bauerifolia''<small> F.Muell. ex Schuch.</small> - heath pink-bells *''Tetratheca ciliata''<small> Lindl.</small> - pink-bells *''Tetratheca confertifolia''<small> Steetz</small> *''Tetratheca decora''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca deltoidea''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca efoliata''<small> F.Muell.</small> *''Tetratheca elliptica''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca ericifolia''<small> Sm.</small> *''Tetratheca erubescens''<small> J.P.Bull</small> *''Tetratheca exasperata''<small> R.Butcher</small> *''Tetratheca fasciculata''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> - Cronin's tetratheca *''Tetratheca filiformis''<small> Benth.</small> *''Tetratheca glandulosa''<small> Sm.</small> *''Tetratheca gunnii''<small> Hook.f.</small> - shy susan *''Tetratheca halmaturina''<small> J.M.Black</small> - curly pink-bells *''Tetratheca harperi''<small> F.Muell.</small> - Jackson tetratheca *''Tetratheca hirsuta''<small> Lindl.</small> - black-eyed susan *''Tetratheca hispidissima''<small> Steetz</small> *''Tetratheca insularis''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca juncea''<small> Sm.</small> *''Tetratheca labillardierei''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca neglecta''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca nephelioides''<small> R.Butcher</small> *''Tetratheca nuda''<small> Lindl.</small> *''Tetratheca parvifolia''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca paucifolia''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca paynterae''<small> Alford</small> *''Tetratheca phoenix''<small> R.Butcher</small> *''Tetratheca pilata'' <small>R.Butcher</small> *''Tetratheca pilifera''<small> Lindl.</small> *''Tetratheca pilosa''<small> Labill.</small> - hairy pink-bells *''Tetratheca procumbens''<small> Hook.f.</small> - mountain pink-bells *''Tetratheca pubescens''<small> Turcz.</small> *''Tetratheca remota''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca retrorsa''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca rubioides''<small> A.Cunn.</small> *''Tetratheca rupicola''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca setigera''<small> Endl.</small> *''Tetratheca shiressii''<small> Blakely</small> *''Tetratheca similis''<small> Joy Thomps.</small> *''Tetratheca stenocarpa''<small> J.H.Willis</small> - long pink-bells *''Tetratheca subaphylla''<small> Benth.</small> - leafless pink-bells *''Tetratheca thymifolia''<small> Sm.</small> - black-eyed susan, thyme pink-bells *''Tetratheca virgata''<small> Steetz</small>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Elaeocarpaceae genera}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q3013177}}
Category:Tetratheca Category:Oxalidales of Australia Category:Elaeocarpaceae genera
{{Oxalidales-stub}} {{Australia-rosid-stub}}