| Winged boronia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Boronia alata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Boronia |
| Species: | B. alata |
| Binomial name | |
| Boronia alata | |
 | |
| Occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Boronia alata, also known as winged boronia, is a flowering shrub. It is an endemic species of Southwest Australia which has been introduced elsewhere as a cultivated plant.
Boronia alata is an erect shrub with many branches growing to a height and width of 2.5 m (8 ft) but in exposed areas, sometimes a prostrate shrub only 0.3 m (1 ft) high. The leaves are pinnate with usually between seven and thirteen leaflets and 15–65 mm (0.6–3 in) long and 10–40 mm (0.4–2 in) wide in outline. The petiole is 4–18 mm (0.2–0.7 in) long. The leaflets are elliptic to lance-shaped, glossy and dark green but paler on the lower side. The end leaflet is 5–20 mm (0.2–0.8 in) long and 1–7 mm (0.04–0.3 in) wide, the side leaflets 6–22 mm (0.2–0.9 in) long and 3–9 mm (0.1–0.4 in) wide. The flowers are pink or white and borne in large groups in a panicle on the ends of branches, sometimes also in upper leaf axils, on a peduncle 2–24 mm (0.08–0.9 in) long. The four sepals are narrow triangular, 2.5–3.5 mm (0.098–0.14 in) long and 0.5–1 mm (0.02–0.04 in) wide, the four petals 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide. The eight stamens alternate in length, with those near the sepals longer than those near the petals. Flowering occurs from July to December and the fruit are hairy capsules 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.079–0.12 in) wide. [3] [4] [5]
The species was first formally described by James Edward Smith in 1807, based on a collection made by Archibald Menzies at King George Sound. [6] The common name winged boronia is cited in state and national floras, and as a horticultural alternative since its introduction to English hothouses. [5] [6] [7] The identification of varieties of this species by Ferdinand von Mueller was later revised to see the autonym Boronia alata Sm. var. alata cited as a synonym for Boronia alata. [8]
The shrub occurs in Southwest Australia, with most records located at coastal areas. The disjunct records are from Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions. The habitat is dense vegetation on sand at dunes and limestone cliffs. [4]
Boronia alata is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is able to be propagated from cuttings. As with most boronias, a heavily shaded situation is preferred for this species. The persistent flowers first appear in the austral spring, in a boronia form that is more open and 'star shaped' than concave or cupped; these are usually pink or infrequently white in colour. The native conditions can be simulated by providing well drained sand, with deep mulch or sandstone sheets that maintain available moisture and protect roots from higher temperature. [5] The species was introduced to English gardens in 1824 as a small evergreen greenhouse specimen, flowering from May to July. [9] The scent of the flowers is slightly fragrant. [10] The vigour of its rootstock was recommended for grafting with Boronia pinnata for English enthusiasts. [11]
Boronia muelleri, commonly known as the forest boronia or pink boronia, is a flowering plant that occurs in forest, woodland and heath in Victoria and New South Wales in Australia. It is an erect, woody shrub or small tree with pinnate leaves and up to fifteen pink to white four-petalled flowers arranged in leaf axils in spring and summer.
Boronia keysii, commonly known as Keys boronia, is a flowering plant that is endemic to Queensland in Australia. It is a sprawling shrub with thin stems, hairy young shoots, pinnate leaves and pink, four-petalled flowers over a long period.
Verticordia densiflora, commonly known as compacted featherflower, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with small leaves, usually small pink and white flowers and which is widespread in the south-west of the state. It is a variable species and in his 1991 paper, Alex George formally described five varieties.
Boronia jucunda is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to the far north-west of Australia. It is an erect shrub with many branches, pinnate leaves and white, four-petalled flowers. It is only known from a small area in the Kimberley region in Western Australia and in a national park in the Northern Territory.
Boronia repanda, commonly known as the granite rose, repand boronia or border boronia, is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to an area near the eastern border between New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. It is a small erect, woody shrub with many branches, thick warty, oblong leaves and pink, rarely white flowers arranged singly in leaf axils.
Cyanothamnus rigenss, commonly known as the stiff boronia, is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales in Australia. It is a low, compact shrub with mostly trifoliate, glandular leaves and white to pale pink, four-petalled flowers in the leaf axils.
Boronia ternata is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with many branches, simple or trifoliate leaves and white to pink four-petalled flowers.
Boronia umbellata, commonly known as the Orara boronia, is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area on the north coast of New South Wales. It is an erect shrub with many branches, aromatic, pinnate leaves and clusters of up to ten dark pink flowers in the leaf axils.
Boronia adamsiana, commonly known as Barbalin boronia, is a plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, hairy shrub with trifoliate leaves and pink or white, four-petalled flowers.
Boronia angustisepala is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to New South Wales, Australia. It is an erect shrub with many branches, pinnate leaves with up to eleven leaflets, and bright pink, four-petalled flowers.
Boronia decumbens is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to northern parts of the Northern Territory. It is a low, spreading shrub with pinnate leaves and white to pink flowers with the four sepals larger than the four petals.
Boronia filicifolia is a plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae and is endemic to the far north-west of Australia. It is an erect or sprawling shrub with many branches, pinnate leaves with up to 55 leaflets and white to pink flowers with the sepals a similar length to the petals.
Boronia interrex, commonly known as the Regent River boronia, is a plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is an erect, sometimes low-lying shrub with pinnate leaves, cream-coloured to pale pink sepals and pink petals, the sepals longer and wider than the petals.
Boronia kalumburuensis is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to the Kalumburu area of Western Australia. It is an erect or sprawling shrub with many branches, pinnate leaves and white to pink four-petalled flowers with the sepals longer and wider than the petals.
Boronia minutipinna is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with many branches, hairy stems and leaves, pinnate leaves and white to pink, four-petalled flowers with the sepals longer and wider than the petals.
Boronia quadrilata is a species of plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area in the Northern Territory, Australia. It is an erect, glabrous shrub with simple, sessile, wedge-shaped leaves, pale yellow petals and green sepals that are longer and wider than the petals. It is only known from a population of about fifteen plants.
Boronia revoluta, commonly known as Ironcap boronia, is a plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with three-part leaves and pink or white, four-petalled flowers.
Boronia squamipetala is a species of plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae, and is endemic to Queensland, Australia. It is an erect shrub with pinnate leaves with between five and thirteen elliptic leaflets, and green to white, four-petalled flowers with hairy backs.
Boronia tolerans is a plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae and is endemic to a small area in the Northern Territory in Australia. It is an erect shrub with many branches, pinnate leaves and white, four-petalled flowers. It is only known from Nitmiluk National Park.
Boronia wilsonii is an erect shrub that is endemic to northern Australia. Its branches, leaves and backs of the flowers are densely covered with woolly hairs. The petals are white to pink or burgundy-coloured.