Baeckea frutescens

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Baeckea frutescens
Baeck frutes 130710-0575 blt.JPG
In Belitung, Sumatra
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Baeckea
Species:
B. frutescens
Binomial name
Baeckea frutescens
Synonyms [1]
List

Baeckea frutescens is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is native to eastern Southeast Asia, New Guinea and Australia. It is a shrub with arching branches, linear leaves and white flowers with seven to thirteen stamens.

Contents

Description

Baeckea frutescens is a shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) and has arching branches. Its leaves are linear and often clustered on short side-branches, 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long and about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–0.6 mm (0.020–0.024 in) long. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils and are 3.5–5 mm (0.14–0.20 in) wide on a pedicel 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) long. The five sepals are rounded-triangular, the five petals white, more or less round and 1.0–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long, and there are seven to thirteen stamens. Flowering mainly occurs in summer and the fruit is a capsule about 2 mm (0.079 in) in diameter. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy

Baeckea frutescens was first formally described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum . [5] [6] The specific epithet (frutescens) means "becoming bushy or shrubby". [7]

Distribution and habitat

This baeckea grows in heath and open grassland from south-east China to eastern Australia. In Australia it grows in near-coastal areas as far south as Port Macquarie. [2] [3]

Use in horticulture

This species' tiny leaves and branches make it a popular subject of bonsai. [8]

Related Research Articles

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

Baeckea is a genus of flowering plants in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, all but one endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus Baeckea are shrubs or small trees with leaves arranged in opposite pairs, white to deep pink flowers with five sepals and five petals, and five to fifteen stamens that are shorter than the petals.

<i>Baeckea brevifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea brevifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales. It is a shrub with narrow egg-shaped to oblong leaves and white to pink flowers with nine to fifteen stamens.

<i>Sannantha pluriflora</i> Species of shrub

Sannantha pluriflora, commonly known as tall baeckea, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae, and is endemic to continental southeastern Australia. It is a shrub or small tree with lance-shaped to elliptic leaves, and groups of two to nine white flowers arranged in umbels in leaf axils.

<i>Sannantha bidwillii</i> Species of flowering plant

Sannantha bidwillii is a species in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to coastal Queensland in Australia. It is a shrub or tree with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and clusters of 3 white flowers.

<i>Baeckea imbricata</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea imbricata, commonly known as heath myrtle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with elliptical to egg-shaped or round leaves and small white flowers with five to twelve stamens.

<i>Rinzia orientalis</i> Species of plant

Rinzia orientalis, commonly known as desert heath-myrtle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a shrub with elliptic to narrowly oblong leaves and white or pale pink flowers usually with ten stamens.

Baeckea latens is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an upright, spreading shrub with erect, linear leaves and small white flowers with three to ten stamens.

Baeckea uncinella is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It is a shrub with narrowly egg-shaped to linear leaves and small white flowers with seven to thirteen stamens.

<i>Darwinia polychroma</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia polychroma, commonly known as harlequin bell, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It has linear leaves and drooping flowers surrounded by yellowish green, green and red bracts.

<i>Baeckea linifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea linifolia, commonly known as swamp baeckea, weeping baeckea or flax-leaf heath myrtle, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with linear leaves and small white flowers with eight to fifteen stamens.

<i>Triplarina imbricata</i> Species of flowering plant

Triplarina imbricata, commonly known as creek triplarina, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to northern New South Wales. It is a shrub with weeping branches, narrow egg-shaped leaves, and flowers in pairs with five sepals, five relatively small white petals and fourteen to seventeen stamens.

<i>Triplarina volcanica</i> Species of flowering plant

Triplarina volcanica is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland, where it is only found in three mountainous areas. It is a shrub with elliptical to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and flowers with five sepals, five white petals and fourteen to sixteen stamens.

<i>Baeckea omissa</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea omissa is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and white flowers mostly with ten to fifteen stamens.

<i>Baeckea diosmifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea diosmifolia, commonly known as fringed baeckea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a shrub with lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white flowers with seven to nine stamens.

Baeckea kandos is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of New South Wales. It is a spreading shrub with narrow egg-shaped to linear leaves and small white flowers with ten to twelve stamens.

<i>Baeckea latifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea latifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a shrub with broadly elliptic leaves and small white flowers with six to eight stamens.

<i>Baeckea leptocaulis</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea leptocaulis is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Tasmania. It is a shrub with linear leaves and small white flowers with five or six stamens.

Baeckea trapeza is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a shrub with lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white flowers with eight to eleven stamens.

<i>Baeckea utilis</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea utilis, commonly known as mountain baeckea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a shrub with elliptic to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and white flowers, usually with eight stamens.

Sannantha angusta is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It has scaly to fibrous bark, narrowly lance-shaped to linear leaves and white flowers, and usually grows in forest on rocky hillsides. It was previously known as Babingtonia angusta, and has been cultivated as Baeckea sp. 'Clarence River'.

References

  1. 1 2 "Baeckea frutescens". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 Wilson, Peter G. "Baeckea frutescens". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Baeckea frutescens". Flora of China. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  4. Bean, Anthony R. (1997). "A revision of Baeckea (Myrtaceae) in eastern Australia, Malesia and south-east Asia". Telopea. 7 (3): 247–250. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  5. "Baeckea frutescens". APNI. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  6. Linnaeus, Carl (1753). Species Plantarum. pp. 358–359. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  7. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 202. ISBN   9780958034180.
  8. Tan Cheng Li (3 May 2016). "Unique plants in a scanty forest" (PDF). Star2. The Star . p. 5. Retrieved 19 May 2023 via Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia.