Androcalva fraseri

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Brush kurrajong
Commersonia fraseri.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Androcalva
Species:
A. fraseri
Binomial name
Androcalva fraseri
Synonyms [1]
  • Commerconia fraseri F.Muell. orth. var.
  • Commersonia fraseriJ.Gay
  • Commersonia fraseriJ.Gay var. fraseri
  • Commersonia fraseri var. macrophyllaJ.Gay
  • Commersonia fraseri var. microphyllaJ.Gay
  • Restiaria fraseri(Gay) Kuntze
Foliage, near the Telegherry River Commersonia fraseri Dungog.JPG
Foliage, near the Telegherry River

Androcalva fraseri, commonly known as blackfellow's hemp or brush kurrajong, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a small tree or shrub that forms suckers and has egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaves with serrated edges, and clusters of 13 to 21 white flowers.

Contents

Description

Androcalva fraseri is a small tree or shrub that typically grows to 3–9 m (9.8–29.5 ft) high and 2–4 m (6 ft 7 in – 13 ft 1 in) wide, forms suckers and has a trunk up to 15 cm (5.9 in) in diameter. The leaves are arranged alternately along the stems, egg-shaped to broadly triangular, or broadly lance-shaped to heart-shaped, 6–160 mm (0.24–6.30 in) long and 50–80 mm (2.0–3.1 in) wide on a petiole up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long with stipules 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long at the base but that fall off as the leaves mature. The edges of the leaves are irregularly toothed, the upper surface is dull green and sparsely hairy, the lower surface covered with fine, silvery, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are white, arranged in clusters of 13 to 21 on a peduncle 30–110 mm (1.2–4.3 in) long, each flower on a pedicel 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long, with bracts 2–12 mm (0.079–0.472 in) long at the base. The flowers are 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) wide with 5 white, petal-like sepals and 5 petals, the ligule slightly longer than the sepals. There are 3 staminodes between each pair of stamens, the central one spatula-shaped and the other two linear. Flowering occurs from August to April, with a peak from September to November, and the fruit is a bristly capsule 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) in diameter. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy

The French naturalist Jaques Étienne Gay was the first to formally describe the species in 1823. He gave it the name Commersonia fraseri and published the description in the journal, Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle from specimens collected by Charles Fraser. [7] [8]

A 2011 molecular analysis of segments of chloroplast DNA found that the genera Commersonia and Rulingia formed a monophyletic group but that the member species were intermingled, and split out into two hitherto unrecognised clades. [9] In 2011, Carolyn Wilkins and Barbara Whitlock transferred the species to Androcalva as A. fraseri. [10] [11]

The specific epithet honours Charles Fraser, the collector of the type specimens and an early New South Wales colonial botanist. [12]

Distribution and habitat

Androcalva fraseri is found in rainforest and wet eucalypt forest along and east of the Great Dividing Range in New South Wales [5] and southeastern Queensland. [12] In the latter habitat, it is associated with trees such as rough-barked apple ( Angophora floribunda ), turpentine ( Syncarpia glomulifera ), and Sydney blue gum ( Eucalyptus saligna ). A fast-growing plant, it is able to colonise disturbed ground, [6] particularly areas where vegetation has been partly cleared such as under power lines. [4]

Ecology

This species is an adult host plant for the chrysomelid beetle Podagra submetallica . [13]

Use in horticulture

Androcalva fraseri has been propagated readily from cuttings taken in winter, and grows better with extra moisture in cultivation. [12]

Related Research Articles

<i>Commersonia</i> Genus of flowering plants

Commersonia is a genus of twenty-five species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. Plants in this genus are shrubs or trees, occurring from Indochina to Australia and have stems, leaves and flowers covered with star-like hairs. The leaves are simple, often with irregularly-toothed edges, the flowers bisexual with five sepals, five petals and five stamens and the fruit a capsule with five valves. The genus underwent a revision in 2011 and some species were separated from Commersonia, others were added from Rulingia.

<i>Commersonia dasyphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Commersonia dasyphylla, commonly known as kerrawang, is a species of flowering plant of the family Malvaceae and is endemic to eastern continental Australia. It is a shrub with egg-shaped to lance-shaped with irregular edges and flowers in groups of up to 21, followed by hairy brown capsules.

<i>Androcalva</i> Genus of flowering plants

Androcalva is a genus of 33 species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to continental Australia.

<i>Commersonia borealis</i> Species of flowering plant

Commersonia borealis is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a low growing, spreading shrub with egg-shaped to oblong leaves, and white, yellow and cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Androcalva rosea</i> Species of flowering plant

Androcalva rosea, commonly known as Sandy Hollow commersonia, is a small endangered shrub with pink flowers and prostrate trailing branches. It is only known from four locations in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales.

Androcalva cuneata is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading, densely hairy shrub that sometimes forms suckers and has wedge-shaped leaves and clusters of 5 to 15 pink flowers.

<i>Androcalva loxophylla</i> Species of tree

Androcalva loxophylla is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is a shrub with spreading or low-lying branches, oblong to broadly elliptic leaves and clusters of 4 to 20 yellow flowers.

Commersonia grandiflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an erect, open shrub with hairy, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves, and white or cream-coloured flowers.

Androcalva argentea is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a tall shrub that forms suckers from rhizomes and has silvery branchlets and leaves, the leaves egg-shaped with wavy edges and serrated, and dense clusters of 10 to 30 white to cream-coloured flowers.

Androcalva beeronensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a shrub that forms suckers from rhizomes and has branchlets and leaves covered with soft, golden hairs, the leaves egg-shaped to lance-shaped with toothed edges, and clusters of 9 to 24 cream-coloured to white flowers.

<i>Androcalva crispa</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva crispa, commonly known as crisped leaf commersonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub that forms suckers from rhizomes and has densely new growth, clusters of lobed, egg-shaped or oblong leaves with wavy, serrated edges, and groups of white and pinkish-purple flowers.

<i>Androcalva gaudichaudii</i> Species of tree

Androcalva gaudichaudii is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the far west of Western Australia. It is a low, dense shrub that forms suckers and has broadly oval leaves with a heart-shaped base, and clusters of 2 to 11 white flowers.

Androcalva inglewoodensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Queensland. It is a spreading, prostrate shrub that has hairy young branchlets, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves with irregularly serrated edges, and small groups of white to cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Androcalva leichhardtii</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva leichhardtii is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to central Queensland. It is a small shrub with hairy new growth, wrinkled, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves with irregular serrations on the edges, and small groups of yellow flowers.

Androcalva leiperi, also known as Leiper's commersonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of south-east Queensland. It is an erect or prostrate shrub that has brown bark, lance-shaped leaves with 4 to 7 pairs of rounded serrations on the edges, and groups of 3 to 12 white flowers.

<i>Androcalva multiloba</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva multiloba is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the Eyre Peninsula of South Australia. It is a dwarf shrub with densely hairy, irregularly serrated, egg-shaped leaves, and up to 5 white and red flowers arranged opposite leaf axils or on the ends of branches.

<i>Androcalva pedleyi</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva pedleyi is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Queensland. It is low, spreading or prostrate shrub that forms suckers and has softly-hairy new growth, linear to lance-shaped leaves with lobes on the edges, and groups of 7 to 10 white, later pink flowers.

Androcalva perkinsiana, commonly known as headland commersonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of central eastern Queensland. It is a small, erect shrub with hairy young branchlets, oblong or lance-shaped leaves with 5 to 11 pairs of small serrations on the edges, and groups of 3 to 4 pale purple flowers.

Androcalva reticulata is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to north-eastern Queensland. It is a low shrub that forms suckers, its new growth covered with star-shaped hairs, and has egg-shaped leaves with irregular teeth on the edges, and groups of two to six red flowers.

<i>Androcalva rossii</i> Species of shrub

Androcalva rossii, commonly known as native hemp, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is spindly shrub or small tree that forms suckers, its branchlets covered with star-shaped hairs, and has egg-shaped leaves with irregular teeth on the edges, and groups of 18 to 60 white or cream-coloured flowers.

References

  1. 1 2 "Androcalva fraseri". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  2. ↑ "Species profile—Commersonia fraseri". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  3. ↑ Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern bushes of Australia ; Thomasias & allied genera : a field and horticultural guide. Victoria: Australian Plants Society, Keilor Plains Group. pp. 108–109. ISBN   9780646839301.
  4. 1 2 Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2000). Native Plants of the Sydney District:An Identification Guide (2nd ed.). Kenthurst, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press. p. 80. ISBN   0-7318-1031-7.
  5. 1 2 Harden, Gwen J.; Orme, Andrew E. "Androcalva frseri". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  6. 1 2 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (2001). "Ecology of Sydney plant species Part 8: Dicotyledon families Rutaceae to Zygophyllaceae". Cunninghamia. 7 (2): 388. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Commersonia fraseri". APNI. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  8. ↑ Gay, Jaques E. (1823). "Fragment d'une monographie des vraies Buttneriacées". Mémoires du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle. 10: 215–216. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  9. ↑ Whitlock, Barbara A.; Hale, Amanda M.; Indorf, Jane L.; Wilkins, Carolyn F. (2011). "Polyphyly of Rulingia and Commersonia (Lasiopetaleae, Malvaceae s.l.)". Australian Systematic Botany. 24 (5): 215–25. doi:10.1071/SB09030.
  10. ↑ "Androcalva fraseri". APNI. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  11. ↑ Wilkins, Carolyn F.; Whitlock, Barbara A. (2011). "A new Australian genus, Androcalva, separated from Commersonia (Malvaceae s.l. or Byttneriaceae)". Australian Systematic Botany. 24 (5): 284–349. doi:10.1071/SB10032.
  12. 1 2 3 Lodder, Mark (16 December 2003). "Growing Native Plants: Commersonia fraseri". Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian National Botanic Gardens, Australian Government. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
  13. ↑ Hawkeswood, Trevor J. (2005). "Three new host plants for the Australian leaf beetle Podagrica submetallica (Blackburn, 1894) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae)" (PDF). Calodema. 4: 19–22. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2011-12-08.
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