Calectasia

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Calectasia
Calectasia intermedia Flower at Yallakar.jpg
Calectasia intermedia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Arecales
Family: Dasypogonaceae
Genus: Calectasia
R.Br. [1]
Synonyms [1]

Scaryomyrtus F.Muell.

Calectasia is a genus of about fifteen species of flowering plants in the family Dasypogonaceae and is endemic to south-western Australia. Plants is this genus are small, erect shrubs with branched stems covered by leaf sheaths. The flowers are star-shaped, lilac-blue to purple and arranged singly on the ends of short branchlets.

Contents

Illustration of Calectasia cyanea from Curtis's Botanical Magazine Calectasia cyanea.jpg
Illustration of Calectasia cyanea from Curtis's Botanical Magazine

Description

Plants in the genus Calectasia are small, often rhizome-forming shrubs with erect, branched stems with sessile leaves arranged alternately along the stems, 5–17 mm (0.20–0.67 in) long and about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) wide, the base held closely against the stem and the tip pointed. The flowers are arranged singly on the ends of branchlets and are bisexual, the three sepals and three petals are similar to each other, and joined at the base forming a short tube but spreading, forming a star-like pattern with a metallic sheen. Six bright yellow or orange stamens form a tube in the centre of the flower with a thin style extending beyond the centre of the tube. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy

The genus Calectasia was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen and the first species to be named was Calectasia cyanea . [7] [8] The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words kalos " beautiful" and ektasis "development", alluding to the blue spreading perianth-tubes. [4] [9]

Ludwig Preiss described C. grandiflora in 1846 [10] and Otto Wilhelm Sonder added C. intermedia in 1856. [11] In 2001, Barrett and Dixon reviewed the genus and added eight new species [4] and in 2015 four more species were added making a total of 15. [12]

Distribution and habitat

Calectasia species occur in the south-west of Western Australia and in the border areas between South Australia and Victoria. C. intermedia is only found in the latter region and the remaining species only in Western Australia. They occupy a variety of habitats, occasionally in seasonally swampy areas, but more usually in low heath or woodland on sand, or over laterite or granite. [13]

Ecology

There is evidence that all Calectasia species have sand-binding roots and flowers that are buzz pollinated. It is possible that the similarity in appearance of Calectasia and Thelymitra variegata flowers indicate an example of Dodsonian mimicry. Calectasia grandiflora and Thelymitra variegata often occur in the same area. Individual Calectasia plants are often parasitised by a dodder-like plant in the genus Cassytha . [4]

Some species of Calectasia form specialised roots called stilt roots and can only regenerate from seed whilst others have tubers and can resprout from these. All stilt-rooted species are thought to be killed by fire and need up to five years without fire to flower and set seed. [4]

Species list

The following is a list of Calectasia species accepted by the Australian Plant Census as of October 2021: [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Thelymitra</i> Genus of orchids

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<i>Lechenaultia</i> Genus of plants

Lechenaultia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Goodeniaceae, the species native to Australia with one species also occurring in New Guinea. Plants in the genus Lechenaultia are glabrous shrubs or herbs with needle-shaped leaves, more or less sessile flowers with five sepals and five blue, white, or yellow and red petals in two unequal lobes, the fruit an elongated capsule.

<i>Bossiaea</i> Genus of legumes

Bossiaea is a genus of about 78 species of flowering plants in the pea family Fabaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus often have stems and branches modified as cladodes, simple, often much reduced leaves, flowers with the upper two sepal lobes larger than the lower three, usually orange to yellow petals with reddish markings, and the fruit a more or less flattened pod.

<i>Thelymitra crinita</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra crinita, commonly known as the blue lady orchid, queen orchid or lily orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single broad, oval leaf and up to fifteen brilliant blue flowers with a blue column with the lobe on top of the anther covered with short, finger-like calli.

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

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<i>Calectasia intermedia</i> Species of plant

Calectasia intermedia, commonly known as blue tinsel-lily or eastern tinsel lily is a species of flowering plant in the family Dasypogonaceae, endemic to the border areas of western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia and flowering in early spring. It is the only member of the genus Calectasia that is not endemic to Western Australia.

<i>Calectasia grandiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Calectasia grandiflora, commonly known as the blue tinsel lily, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a perennial herb endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It flowers in spring.

<i>Calectasia cyanea</i> Species of plant

Calectasia cyanea, commonly known as the star of Bethlehem or blue tinsel lily, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a perennial herb and is endemic to the south–west of Western Australia. Restricted to a single population in Torndirrup National Park, it is critically endangered.

Calectasia browneana, commonly known as blue tinsel lily, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a spreading, perennial, tufted herb. It is an uncommon species, endemic and restricted to a few areas in the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to the other species of Calectasia and has only been recognised as a separate species since a review of the genus in 2001. It is distinguished from the others mainly by the hairiness of its leaves and lack of a rhizome.

<i>Calectasia gracilis</i> Species of flowering plant

Calectasia gracilis, commonly known as blue tinsel lily, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading, tufted, woody, perennial herb with blue petals and six yellow stamens that turn orange-red as they age. It is similar to the other species of Calectasia and has only been recognised as a separate species since a review of the genus in 2001.

<i>Calectasia hispida</i> Species of flowering plant

Calectasia hispida, commonly known as blue tinsel lily or hispid tinsel lily, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a rhizomatous, erect, clumping perennial herb. It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia and is common in most of its range. It is similar to the other species of Calectasia and is distinguished from them mainly by the hairiness of its leaves and the glabrousness of the throat of the flowers.

Calectasia keigheryi, commonly known as blue tinsel lily, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as an erect, rhizomatous, perennial herb. It is an uncommon species, endemic and restricted to a few areas in the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to the other species of Calectasia and has only been recognised as a separate species since a review of the genus in 2001. It is relatively easily distinguished from the others mainly by its smaller flowers, unusual anther shape, and hairs on the lower part of the petals.

<i>Calectasia narragara</i> Species of flowering plant

Calectasia narragara, commonly known as a blue tinsel lily or star of Bethlehem, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a tufted rhizomatous herb. It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia and common in most of its range.

Calectasia pignattiana, commonly known as the stilted tinsel lily or Pignatti's star of Bethlehem, is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a perennial herb and is endemic to the south–west of Western Australia. It is only known from ten locations, four of which are on road verges. The species is classified as vulnerable.

Calectasia obtusa, commonly known as a blue tinsel lily or blunt-leaved tinsel lily is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as an erect, small shrub with stems to 50 cm. It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia, widespread in most of its range but only known from nine populations.

Calectasia palustris, commonly known as a blue tinsel lily or swamp tinsel lily is a plant in the family Dasypogonaceae growing as a perennial, tufted herb with stilt roots. It is an uncommon species, endemic and restricted to a few areas in the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to the other species of Calectasia and has only been recognised as a separate species since a review of the genus in 2001.

Calectasia elegans, the elegant tinsel lily, is a species of flowering plants in the family Dasypogonaceae. It is found in Western Australia.

<i>Thelymitra grandiflora</i> Species of orchid

Thelymitra grandiflora, commonly called the giant sun orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to South Australia. It has a single large, erect, linear to lance-shaped leaf and up to forty large, dark metallic to greenish blue flowers with darker veins.

Thelymitra cornicina, commonly called the lilac sun orchid, is a species of orchid in the family Orchidaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single narrow, pale green leaf and up to eight lilac-tinged blue flowers with the lobe on top of the anther covered with short, finger-like calli.

References

  1. 1 2 "Calectasia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  2. "Calectasis cyanea". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 67: 3834. 1841. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  3. Dahlgren, Rolf M.T.; Clifford, H. Trevor; Yeo, Peter F. (1985). The families of the monocotyledons : structure, evolution, and taxonomy. Berlin u.a.: Springer. p. 154. ISBN   354013655X . Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Barrett, Russell L.; Dixon, Kingsley W. (8 January 2001). "A revision of the genus Calectasia (Calectasiaceae) with eight new species described from south-west Western Australia". Nuytsia. 13 (3): 411–448. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  5. "Calectasia". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  6. Conn, Barry J. "Calectasia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  7. "Calectasia". APNI. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  8. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen. London. p. 263. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  9. Black, John McConnell (1943). Flora of South Australia. South Australia: Government Printer. p. 196. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  10. "Calectasia grandiflora". APNI. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  11. "Calectasia intermedia". APNI. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
  12. Barrett, Russell L.; Barrett, Matthew D. (2015). "Twenty-seven new species of vascular plants from Western Australia" (PDF). Nuytsia. 26: 46–53. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  13. "Calectasia Lindl". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  14. "Calectasia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 October 2021.