Conospermum coerulescens

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Conospermum coerulescens
Conospermum coerulescens.jpg
Subspecies dorrienii in the Stirling Range National Park
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Conospermum
Species:
C. coerulescens
Binomial name
Conospermum coerulescens

Conospermum coerulescens is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with thread-like to narrowly lance-shaped leaves and spikes of up to 10 greyish-blue to deep blue, hairy flowers.

Contents

Description

Conospermum coerulescens is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in). It has ascending, thread-like to narrowly lance-shaped leaves 4–25 mm (0.16–0.98 in) long, 0.4–1.5 mm (0.016–0.059 in) wide. The flowers are arranged in leaf axils in a spike of up to 10 on a peduncle 7–60 mm (0.28–2.36 in) long. The bracteoles are blue, egg-shaped to more or less round, 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) long and wide, and hairy. The perianth is grey-blue to deep blue, forming a tube 1.5–3.5 mm (0.059–0.138 in) long. The upper lip is 3–4.6 mm (0.12–0.18 in) long, the lower lip joined for 2.2–3.2 mm (0.087–0.126 in) long with lobes 0.5–1.4 mm (0.020–0.055 in) long and 0.4–0.8 mm (0.016–0.031 in) wide. Flowering time depends on subspecies and the fruit is a nut 2.0–2.8 mm (0.079–0.110 in) long and 1.8–2.4 mm (0.071–0.094 in) wide with cream-coloured hairs. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy

Conospermum coerulescens was first formally described in 1859 by Ferdinand von Mueller in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae from specimens collected by George Maxwell near the Salt River. [5] [6] The specific epithet (coerulescens) means 'becoming blue'. [7]

In 1995, Eleanor Marion Bennett described 2 subspecies of C. coerulescens, and the names, and that of the autonym, are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

Distribution and habitat

Conospermum coerulescens is found on sand plains and low hills, and is widespread in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions where it grows in sandy to loamy soils often over gravelly laterite. [2] [3]

Subspecies adpressum is found on sandplains and low hills between Albany, the Stirling Range National Park and Mount Manypeaks in the Esperance Plains and Jarrah Forest bioregions. [9] [10]

Subspecies coerulescens is poorly known from near Albany and Bremer Bay. [12] [13]

Subspecies dorrienii grows in sand, stony soil and gravel on rocky slopes in the Stirling Range National Park. [15] [16]

Conservation status

Subspecies adpressum and subsp. dorrienii are listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, [10] [16] but supsp. coerulescens is listed as "Priority One" by the Government of Western Australia, [13] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk. [17]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Conospermum canaliculatum</i> Species of Australian shrub in the family Proteaceae

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<i>Conospermum capitatum</i> Species of Australian shrub in the family Proteaceae

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<i>Philotheca nodiflora</i> Species of plant

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Pultenaea calycina is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas in the south of Western Australia. It is an erect, spindly shrub with flat or more or less cylindrical, grooved leaves and yellow and orange flowers.

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References

  1. "Conospermum coerulescens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  2. 1 2 "Conospermum coerulescens". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. 1 2 Bennett, Edith M. "Conospermum coerulescens". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  4. Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of southern Western Australia (3rd ed.). Kenthurst, N.S.W.: Rosenberg Publishing. p. 160. ISBN   9781877058844.
  5. "Conospermum coerulescens". APNI. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  6. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1859). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 157. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  7. George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 166. ISBN   9780958034180.
  8. "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. adpressum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  9. 1 2 Bennett, Edith M. "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. adpressum". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. adpressum". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  11. "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. coerulescens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  12. 1 2 Bennett, Edith M. "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. coerulescens". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  13. 1 2 3 "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. coerulescens". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  14. "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. dorrienii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  15. 1 2 Bennett, Edith M. "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. dorrienii". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  16. 1 2 3 "Conospermum coerulescens subsp. dorrienii". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  17. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 12 July 2023.