Gonocarpus tetragynus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Saxifragales |
Family: | Haloragaceae |
Genus: | Gonocarpus |
Species: | G. tetragynus |
Binomial name | |
Gonocarpus tetragynus | |
Synonyms | |
Synonymy
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Gonocarpus tetragynus is an Australian herb in the watermilfoil family Haloragaceae native to eastern Australia. [1] Common names include common raspwort. [2] A widespread species particularly found in dry eucalyptus forests, scrubland, and heathland. [1]
The herb can grow erect or ascend to 15-30 cm (5.9-11.8 in) tall. The many wiry branching stems can be smooth or are weakly 4-ribbed. Leaves are decussate, lanceolate and range from 0.6-1.2 cm (0.2-0.5 in) long. The leaf margins are thickened, irregularly toothed and recurved. The leaves are attached to petioles, 0.5-1 mm (0.020-0.039 in) long. The bracts are sessile, alternate, lanceolate, and range from 2-2.5 mm (0.079-0.098 in) long. The bracteoles are membranous, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 0.8-1.2 mm (0.031-0.047 in) long. [3] Both the leaves and the stem are covered in white-appressed hairs, which gives a rough texture. [3] [4]
The species is perennial. [3] [4] The flowers are bisexual, but in the occasional individual, they become functionally female, after the abortion of the stamens and the petals. [3] The flowering time ranges from Spring to Summer; as early as September and as late as February. [3] [4] [5] The inflorescence is a spike with tiny solitary flowers which are 1-3 mm (0.039-0.12 in) across. [3] [4] Like in other members of the Haloragaceae family, the flowers are divided into 4 whorls. The sepals are deltoid and green, with a prominent basal callus. Petals range from green to red and are hooded and keeled. The herb has 8 stamens and an 8-ribbed ovary. [3]
The fruit is a dry nut, a family characteristic. [3] The herb develops a ridged, globular nut. [3] [4] It is 1-1.3 mm (0.039-0.051 in) long. [3] The colour ranges from silver-grey to slate grey. [3]
Jacques Labillardière first formally described the species as G. tetragyna in 1805; as published in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen 1. [6] Its variant, Gonocarpus tetragynus, would be the accepted name by 2005, according to the Australian Plant Census of the same year. [6]
Several other synonyms are known including Goniocarpus tetragynus, Haloragis gonocarpus, Haloragis tetragyna, Halorrhagis tetragyna, Gonocarpus tenellus, Haloragis rubra, Halorrhagis rubra. [6]
The species is widespread, in terrestrial Eastern Australia. It occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. [3] The herb can also be found in the Flinders and Clarke islands in the Bass Strait. [3] While widespread it is particularly found in moist to dry soils in dry Eucalyptus forests, shrublands, and heathlands. [1] In Tasmania, it is commonly found on dry stony outcrops. [4]
Records of this species in other countries are based on miss identification of G. incanus, G. montanus, G. chinensis, and G. philippinensis. [3]
Gonocarpus tetragynus is similar in appearance to Gonocarpus humilis. The two species can be distinguished by the former's lanceolate leaves, an even cover of white-appraised hairs and the flower’s 8 stamens. [3]
Cultivation of the species is possible, but it is not widely grown. [4]
Haloragaceae is a eudicot flowering plant family in the order Saxifragales, based on the phylogenetic APG system. In the Cronquist system, it was included in the order Haloragales.
Eucalyptus macrandra, commonly known as long-flowered marlock, river yate or twet, is a species of mallee or small tree that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has smooth greyish bark, lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds usually in groups of fifteen, pale yellow flowers and elongated cup-shaped to bell-shaped fruits.
Eucalyptus pleurocarpa, commonly known as tallerack, talyerock or tallerack is a species of mallee that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has smooth bark, broadly lance-shaped to elliptical, grey or glaucous leaves that are arranged more or less in opposite pairs, flower buds in groups of seven, whitish flowers and glaucous, barrel-shaped fruit. It is easily recognised in the field by its form, large, white, waxy leaves and, when in flower, its stamens clustered in four groups.
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Philotheca verrucosa, commonly known as fairy wax-flower or Bendigo wax-flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a small shrub with prominently glandular-warty branchlets, heart-shaped or egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils.
Eucalyptus amygdalina, commonly known as black peppermint, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to Tasmania. It is a small to medium-sized tree with rough bark on park of the trunk, smooth grey to brown bark above, lance-shaped to linear adult leaves, oval to club-shaped flower buds, white flowers and cup-shaped to hemispherical fruit.
Patersonia fragilis, commonly known as swamp iris or short purple-flag, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae family and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb with linear, cylindrical leaves and pale violet to blue-violet flowers.
Philotheca pungens, commonly known as prickly waxflower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an undershrub with linear to narrow oblong or needle-like leaves and white flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils.
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Eucalyptus calycogona, commonly known as the gooseberry mallee or square fruited mallee, is a mallee that is endemic to southern Australia. It has smooth bark, narrow lance-shaped adult leaves, flower buds that are square in cross-section arranged in groups of seven in leaf axils, creamy white, sometimes pink flowers, and fruit that are square in cross-section.
Eucalyptus urnigera, commonly known as urn tree, is a species of small to medium-sized tree that is endemic to Tasmania. It has smooth bark, lance-shaped or elliptical leaves, flower buds in groups of three, white flowers and urn-shaped fruit.
Baeckea gunniana, commonly known as alpine baeckea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to alpine and sub-alpine areas of south-eastern Australia. It is a densely-branched shrub with egg-shaped to oblong leaves and small white flowers with four to six stamens.
Gonocarpus teucrioides, or forest raspwort is a common flowering herb or subshrub in the Haloragaceae, or watermilfoil family. It is native to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania and is widespread and abundant in the understorey of wet forests. The name raspwort refers to the rough, scabrous surface of many of the Gonocarpus species.
Tetratheca pilosa is a flowering plant in the family Elaeocarpaceae, endemic to Australia. It is a small shrub found in dry sclerophyll forests, open heathlands and woodlands of Australia. It was first recorded in 1805 by French botanist Jacques Labillardière.
Westringia brevifolia Benth., commonly referred to as Greater Shortleaf Westringia is member of the Lamiaceae family, subfamily, Prosterantheroideae and one of four Westringia species native Tasmania, Australia. This evergreen shrub somewhat resembles rosemary and is similar in appearance to another Tasmanian species W. rigida, but can be distinguished by its shorter calyx lobes
Gonocarpus elatus is a plant in the watermilfoil family Haloragaceae native to Australia, and found in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia.
Wahlenbergia gymnoclada, commonly known as the naked bluebell, is a species of plant of the family Campanulaceae and is native to Australia. It is one of 200 species, in the Wahlenbergia genus. Of these species, 26 occur in Australia, including one introduced, and Tasmania has seven species of native Wahlenbergia. Species in this genus are “all slender perennial herbs and most species occur in grassy vegetation, although one occurs in rocky alpine areas. “The slender pedicels with delicate blue, symmetrical, flowers make this a relatively distinctive genus. The corolla tube is bell shaped, often with more or less spreading lobes”.
Gonocarpus humilis, commonly known as shade raspwort, is a small herb in the genus Gonocarpus of the family Haloragaceae. Shade raspwort is common along the eastern coast of Australia, and grows in moist and shaded locations. The leaves have a rough and scabrous surface, giving the plant the common name raspwort.