Darwinia procera

Last updated

Darwinia procera
Darwinia procera.jpg
Darwinia procera in the ANBG
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Darwinia
Species:
D. procera
Binomial name
Darwinia procera
Darwinia proceraDistMap33.png
Occurrence data from AVH

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.

Contents

Description

Darwinia procera is an erect shrub which grows to a height of about 3 metres (10 ft) and has upright branches. The leaves are laterally compressed and arranged in a decussate pattern along the branches. The leaves are 10–25 millimetres (0.4–1 in) long, glabrous, have a bluish tinge, curve upwards and taper to a point. [2] [3] [4]

The flowers are arranged in clusters of about four on the ends of the branches, each flower on a stalk 1–2 millimetres (0.04–0.08 in) long. the groups surrounded by reddish bracts 4–13 millimetres (0.2–0.5 in) long. The floral cup is 5–8 millimetres (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 2 millimetres (0.08 in) wide and the petals form a white tube surrounding and enclosing the stamens. The style is white, 14–20 millimetres (0.6–0.8 in) long and extends beyond the end of the flower tube. Flowering occurs between late winter and early summer. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy

Darwinia procera was first formally described in 1963 by Barbara Briggs in Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium from specimens she collected near Kariong in 1961. [5] The specific epithet (procera) is derived a Latin word meaning "tall", "slender" or "long", [6] possibly referring to the growth habit of the plant. [3]

Distribution and habitat

This darwinia grows in forest and scrub near the top of sandstone gullies on the central coast north of Sydney. [2] [3] [4]

Conservation

Darwinia procera is a rare plant but is not considered to be in danger at present. A significant population is preserved in the Brisbane Water National Park. [3] [4]

Use in horticulture

Darwinia procera is reasonably well-known in horticulture with its unusual foliage being a feature. It can be propagated from seed but is easier to raise from cuttings. It is hardy in well-drained, sandy soil in a partly-shaded situation with occasional watering in long dry spells. [3] [4]

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 glaucophylla</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

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

Darwinia fascicularis is shrub in the myrtle family and is endemic to areas near Sydney. A small shrub with aromatic foliage and white flowers, turning red as they mature. Nectar feeding birds are attracted to its flowers as a food source.

<i>Eriostemon australasius</i> Species of flowering plant

Eriostemon australasius commonly known as pink wax flower is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with narrow oblong leaves and pink flowers with five petals in late winter and early spring.

<i>Epacris microphylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris microphylla , commonly known as coral heath, is a plant in the heath family Ericaceae and which is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a common, wiry shrub with tiny leaves that are often obscured by the flowers, especially near the ends of the stems. The plant sometimes grows in dense groups, giving the effect of a snowfall.

<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 apiculata</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia apiculata, commonly known as the scarp darwinia, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in Western Australia. It is a rounded, densely branched, small shrub with thin red branches and scattered small leaves. The flowers are arranged in small groups on the ends of the branches, their most obvious feature being long, red, pointed bracts surrounding each flower and a longer red style with scattered hairs near its tip.

<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 capitellata</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia capitellata is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a bushy, many-branched shrub, very similar to Darwinia diosmoides but differs in the arrangement of its flowers, its more branched habit, prominent oil glands on the younger stems and its thinner, paper-like bracteoles. It was first discovered as a separate species when specimens of it were found to have a larger chromosome number than specimens of D. diosmoides.

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

Darwinia carnea, commonly known as Mogumber bell or Narrogin bell, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a small shrub with narrow, keeled leaves and flowers in groups of about eight, surrounded by yellowish-green to pinkish-red bracteoles. It occurs in small, isolated populations near the towns which contribute to its common names. It is the only "bell-flowered" Darwinia to not grow in the Stirling Range National Park.

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

Darwinia chapmaniana, commonly known as Chapman's bell or Eganu bell, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, rounded, spreading shrub with greyish, hairy leaves and flowers in heads of about 14 small, tubular flowers. The heads are surrounded by long, reddish-yellow, hairy bracts.

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

Darwinia wittwerorum, commonly known as Wittwer's darwinia, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in Western Australia. An erect, spindly shrub with fine leaves and hanging groups of flowers surrounded by leaf-like bracts, it is one of the darwinias known as mountain bells.

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

Darwinia acerosa, commonly known as the fine-leaved darwinia, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in south-west of Western Australia. It is a densely branched, heath-like shrub with crowded, finely pointed leaves and drooping heads of forty to fifty yellowish-green flowers.

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

Darwinia ferricola, commonly known as the Scott River darwinia, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in Western Australia. It is a rounded, densely branched shrub with crowded, linear leaves mostly only on younger branches. The flowers are greenish-yellow and red, and arranged in groups on the ends of the branches, with a long white or reddish style protruding from the petal tube.

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

Darwinia pimelioides is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with broadly oblong leaves and heads of drooping flowers surrounded by larger red to pink and green bracts.

Darwinia terricola, commonly known as the Blackwood bell, is a 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 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>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 procera". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Wilson, Peter G. "Darwinia procera". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney:PlantNET. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Darwinia procera". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Sheather, Warren; Sheather, Gloria. "Darwinia procera". A View from Yallaroo. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
  5. "Darwinia procera". APNI. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 410.