Darwinia glaucophylla

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Darwinia glaucophylla
Darwinia glaucophylla.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Darwinia
Species:
D. glaucophylla
Binomial name
Darwinia glaucophylla
Darwinia glaucophyllaDistMap13.png
Occurrence data from AVH

Darwinia glaucophylla is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae which grows as a prostrate shrub, sometimes forming extensive mats. It has bluish green leaves and white flowers in small groups which fade to reddish pink as they age. It is only known from about fifteen sites in the Gosford area and is listed as "threatened" in New South Wales legislation.

Contents

Description

Darwinia glaucophylla is a prostrate shrub but with erect side branches which reach to a height of 15 cm (6 in). The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and are bluish green with a reddish tinge, glabrous, 8–17 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and triangular in cross section. The flowers are arranged mostly in groups of between two and four, the groups on a stalk about 1 mm (0.04 in) long. There are leaf-like bracts 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long and reddish brown bracteoles at the base of the groups but which fall off as the flowers develop. The floral cup is 7–8 mm (0.28–0.31 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and has distinct ribs. The sepals are 0.5 mm (0.02 in) or less long and much shorter than the petals. The style is straight, white and 12–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long. Flowering occurs from July to November and is followed by fruit which is a tiny capsule containing a single seed 1.5 mm (0.06 in) in diameter. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Darwinia glaucophylla was first formally described in 1962 by Barbara Briggs from a specimen she collected near Kariong and the description was published in Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium . The specific epithet (glaucophylla) is derived from the Ancient Greek words glaukos meaning "bluish-green" or "gray" [6] :369 and phyllon meaning "leaf". [6] :466

Hybrids between this species and D. fascicularis are known, but are easily recognised as they have a more erect habit. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This darwinia grows in heath and open forest in soils derived from sandstone. It is only known from about fifteen sites near Calga, Kariong and Somersby. [2] [3] [4]

Conservation

Darwinia glaucophylla is classified as "threatened" under the New South Wales Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 . The main threats to the species are habitat degradation, inappropriate fire regimes and extension of a nearby sand mine. Some research suggests that the species may benefit from mowing and appropriate use of burning. [3] [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Darwinia</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Darwinia, sometimes commonly known as mountain bells or simply bells, is a genus of about 70 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia. The majority are native to southern Western Australia, but a few species occur in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. The genus was named in honour of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin by Edward Rudge in 1816. Most darwinias grow to a height of between 0.2 and 3 m, and many are prostrate shrubs. Most have small, simple leaves and the flowers are often grouped together, each flower with five red, white or greenish petals and ten stamens. In many species, the flowers are surrounded by large, colourful bracts, giving rise to their common names.

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

Darwinia citriodora, commonly known as lemon-scented darwinia or lemon scented myrtle, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with oblong to lance-shaped leaves and red, yellow and orange flowers over an extended period. It is a hardy plant in well-drained soil, is often cultivated and used as a rootstock for less hardy species.

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

Darwinia taxifolia is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an erect or low-lying shrub with laterally compressed leaves. The flowers are pink or purplish and usually arranged in groups of two to four.

<i>Grevillea shiressii</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to New South Wales, Australia

Grevillea shiressii is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to New South Wales where it is found in only two localities near Gosford. It is an erect shrub with oblong to narrowly lance-shaped and small clusters of green to bluish-grey, later cream-coloured flowers with a brownish-maroon style.

<i>Micromyrtus blakelyi</i> Species of shrub

Micromyrtus blakelyi is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area near Sydney Australia. It is a low, cushion-like shrub with overlapping, keeled, linear leaves and small pink flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

<i>Homoranthus darwinioides</i> Species of flowering plant

Homoranthus darwinioides, commonly known as fairy bells, is a species of flowering plant in the family, Myrtaceae. It is a small, spreading shrub with pendulous yellow and pink flowers, grey-green leaves and is endemic to New South Wales.

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

Darwinia grandiflora is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is a dense, mat forming, prostrate shrub with clusters of tubular red flowers and is endemic to New South Wales.

<i>Olearia asterotricha</i> Species of shrub

Olearia asterotricha, commonly known as rough daisy-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. A tall shrub with white, mauve or blue daisy like flowers growing from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales to western Victoria, Australia.

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

Darwinia briggsiae is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an erect shrub with linear-shaped leaves and small groups of pink and white flowers.

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

Darwinia biflora is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an erect, often straggly shrub with flattened, glabrous leaves, and flowers which are arranged in pairs. The flowers are greenish in colour but each is surrounded by two purple-red bracteoles and have a long yellow-green style projecting out of the flower tube. The species only occurs in the Sydney region in a few places where shale-capped ridges intergrade with Hawkesbury sandstone.

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

Darwinia camptostylis is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales and Victoria. It is small shrub with flattened, glabrous leaves and small clusters of green to yellow flowers. There are scattered populations in coastal areas where the plants grow in heath.

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

Darwinia procera is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in New South Wales. It is a shrub with laterally compressed leaves, so that they are thicker than wide. The flowers are reddish-purple and arranged in groups of four near the ends of the branches. Although rare in nature, this species is often grown by native plant enthusiasts.

Darwinia terricola, commonly known as the Blackwood bell, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small, low, sometimes prostrate shrub with small, linear leaves and small groups of flowers surrounded by reddish-green bracts and which usually lie on the ground.

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

Darwinia thymoides is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading to prostrate shrub with linear to lance-shaped leaves and groups of 4 to 8 green, red or white flowers surrounded by leaf-like bracts.

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

Darwinia peduncularis is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the Sydney region in New South Wales. It is a shrub with flattened leaves and purplish red flowers usually arranged in pairs.

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

Darwinia diminuta is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. A small spreading shrub with white to pinkish tubular flowers arranged in pairs, with a restricted distribution mostly in the Sydney region.

<i>Homoranthus lunatus</i> Species of flowering plant

Homoranthus lunatus, commonly known as crescent-leaved homoranthus, is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in northern New South Wales. It is a spreading shrub with curved leaves and small groups of up to six yellow flowers in leaf axils.

<i>Muellerina bidwillii</i> Species of mistletoe

Muellerina bidwillii, common name Cypress-pine mistletoe, is a hemiparasitic aerial shrub in the family Loranthaceae. The species is endemic to New South Wales and Queensland.

<i>Podolobium scandens</i> Species of legume

Podolobium scandens, commonly known as netted shaggy-pea, is a flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a prostrate, small shrub with orange-yellow pea-like flowers and red markings.

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

Darwinia leptantha is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is an upright, small shrub with white flowers turning pink with age, triangular-shaped leaves and is endemic to New South Wales.

References

  1. "Darwinia glaucophylla". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. 1 2 3 Wilson, Peter G. "Darwinia glaucophylla". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Darwinia glaucophylla - profile". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2010). Native plants of the Sydney region : from Newcastle to Nowra and west to the Dividing Range (3rd ed.). Crows Nest, N.S.W.: Allen & Unwin. pp. 292–293. ISBN   9781741755718.
  5. Tindale, Mary D.; Carolin, Roger C. (1994). Flora of the Sydney region (4th ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Reed. pp. 404–405. ISBN   0730104001.
  6. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  7. Booyens, Carmen; Chalmers, Anita; Beckers, Douglas (2014). "The effect of disturbance regime on Darwinia glaucophylla (Myrtaceae) and its habitat". Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 136: 231–244. Retrieved 10 May 2018.