Leucopogon virgatus

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Common beard-heath
Leucopogon virgatus.jpg
In Kosciuszko National Park
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Leucopogon
Species:
L. virgatus
Binomial name
Leucopogon virgatus
Leucopogon virgatusDistA193.png
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms [1]
  • Choristemon humilis H.B.Will.
  • Styphelia virgataLabill.
Habit of var. virgatus in the Grampians National Park Leucopogon virgatus var. virgatus.jpg
Habit of var. virgatus in the Grampians National Park
Var. brevifolius in the Australian National Botanic Gardens Leucopogon virgatus var. brevifolius.jpg
Var. brevifolius in the Australian National Botanic Gardens

Leucopogon virgatus, commonly known as common beard-heath, [2] is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect to low-lying shrub with linear to narrowly lance-shaped or egg-shaped leaves, and erect clusters of three to seven white, tube-shaped flowers on the ends of branches and in upper leaf axils.

Contents

Description

Leucopogon virgatus is an erect to low-lying shrub that typically grows to a height of 35–60 cm (14–24 in) high and has softly-hairy, redish brown branchlets. The leaves are more or less erect, linear to narrowly lance-shaped or egg-shaped, 2–25 mm (0.079–0.984 in) long and 0.9–5.0 mm (0.035–0.197 in) wide on a petiole up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long. Both sides of the leaves are glabrous, the same shade of green and there are three more or less parallel veins on the lower surface. The flowers are erect, arranged in groups of four to seven in spikes 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) long on the ends of branchlets and in upper leaf axils. The bracteoles are egg-shaped, about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The sepals are egg-shaped, 1.7–3.0 mm (0.067–0.118 in) long, and the petals white, 3.0–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and joined at the base to form a tube, the petal lobes about the same length as the tube and densely bearded inside. Flowering occurs from July to December and the fruit is an oblong drupe about 2.3 mm (0.091 in) long. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

This species was first formally described in 1805 by Jacques Labillardière who gave it the name Styphelia virgata in his Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen . [6] [7] In 1810, Robert Brown changed the name to Leucopogon virgatus in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae . [8] The specific epithet (virgatus) means "twiggy" or "long and slender". [9]

In 1868, George Bentham described two subspecies of L. virgatus in Flora Australiensis and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census, but not by the National Herbarium of New South Wales:

Distribution and habitat

Leucopogon virgatus var. virgatus grows in heath, woodland and forest on the coast and ranges up to an altitude of 600 m (2,000 ft) in south-eastern Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, and is widespread throughout Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and Tasmania. [3] [4] [13] [14] Variety brevifolius grows in heath or heathy woodland in western Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and in forest and woodland in the Northern Midlands of Tasmania. [13] [15]

Conservation status

Leucopogon virgatus var. brevifolius is listed as "rare" under the Tasmanian Government Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 . [15]

Related Research Articles

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

Leucopogon is a genus of about 150-160 species of shrubs or small trees in the family Ericaceae, in the section of that family formerly treated as the separate family Epacridaceae. They are native to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, the western Pacific Islands and Malaysia, with the greatest species diversity in southeastern Australia. Plants in this genus have leaves with a few more or less parallel veins, and tube-shaped flowers usually with a white beard inside.

<i>Styphelia adscendens</i> Species of plant

Styphelia adscendens, commonly known as golden heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a prostrate or low-lying shrub with lance-shaped leaves and cream-coloured, pale yellowish-green or reddish flowers arranged singly or in paris in leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon juniperinus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon juniperinus, commonly known as prickly beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect, densely-branched shrub with oblong to more or less egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon setiger</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon setiger is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales. It is an erect to spreading shrub with lance-shaped to elliptic leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly or in pairs in leaf axils, forming a spike 10–16 mm (0.39–0.63 in) long.

<i>Leucopogon ericoides</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon ericoides, commonly known as the pink beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a slender shrub with oblong leaves, and white to pinkish, tube-shaped flowers.

<i>Leucopogon microphyllus</i> Species of flowering plant

Leucopogon microphyllus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a bushy or spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, and compact spikes of usually four to nine white, tube-shaped flowers.

<i>Leucopogon affinis</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon affinis, commonly known as lance beard-heath and formerly known as Leucopogon lanceolatus is a flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania and South Australia. It is an erect shrub with spikes of small white flowers in early spring, followed by orange-red fruit.

<i>Leucopogon obovatus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon obovatus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with hairy young branchlets, variably-shaped, simple leaves, and erect clusters of 3 to 15 white, bell-shaped flowers on the ends of branches and in upper leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon esquamatus</i> Species of flowering plant

Leucopogon esquamatus, commonly known as the swamp beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a slender shrub with mainly elliptic leaves, and short-lived white, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly or in pairs in upper leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon fraseri</i> Species of flowering plant

Leucopogon fraseri is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is native to south-eastern continental Australia and New Zealand, where it is known as Styphelia nesophila, pātōtara, or dwarf mingimingi. It is a prickly, prostrate to trailing or low-growing shrub with egg-shaped leaves, and erect, tube-shaped white flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon muticus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon muticus, commonly knwon as blunt beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, straggling shrub with egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and small numbers of white, tube-shaped flowers that are densely bearded inside.

<i>Leucopogon appressus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon appressus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales. It is a small, spreading to erect shrub with wiry stems, lance-shaped or narrowly egg-shaped to elliptic leaves and small white flowers.

<i>Leucopogon australis</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon australis, commonly known as spiked beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to southern Australia. It is an erect, aromatic shrub with narrowly egg-shaped to narrowly elliptic leaves, and white flowers arranged in spikes near the ends of branchlets.

<i>Leucopogon collinus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon collinus, commonly known as fringed beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a slender, erect or spreading shrub with narrowly lance-shaped leaves, and white, tube-shaped, bearded flowers.

<i>Leucopogon gelidus</i> Species of flowering plant

Leucopogon gelidus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is native to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a slender, compact shrub with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves, and spikes of drooping, tube-shaped white flowers.

<i>Leucopogon leptospermoides</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon leptospermoides is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with elliptic to lance-shaped or oblong leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers usually arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon margarodes</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon margarodes is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas of eastern Australia. It is an erect, spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and small numbers of white, tube-shaped flowers usually arranged singly or in pairs in upper leaf axils.

<i>Leucopogon rufus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon rufus, commonly known as spoon-leaf beard-heath or ruddy bearded-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect shrub with erect to spreading, egg-shaped leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged in spikes in two to five leaf axils near the ends of branches.

<i>Leucopogon tamariscinus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon tamariscinus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged in dense spikes on the ends of branches.

<i>Leucopogon woodsii</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon woodsii, commonly known as nodding beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a slender shrub with more or less erect, egg-shaped leaves, and pendent white, tube-shaped flowers with densely bearded lobes.

References

  1. 1 2 "Leucopogon virgatus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 Powell, Jocelyn M.; Walsh, Neville G.; Brown, Elizabeth A. "Leucopogon virgatus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 Powell, Jocelyn M. "Leucopogon virgatus". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Leucopogon virgatus". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  5. ↑ Rodway, Leonard (1903). The Tasmanian Flora. Hobart: John Vail, Government Printer. p. 117. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Styphelia virgata". APNI. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Labillardière, Jaques (1805). Novae Hollandiae plantarum specimen. Paris. pp. 46–47. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  8. ↑ "Leucopogon virgatus". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  9. ↑ William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 528.
  10. ↑ "Leucopogon virgatus var. brevifolius". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. ↑ Powell, Jocelyn M.; Walsh, Neville G.; Brown, Elizabeth A. "Leucopogon virgatus var. brevifolius". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Leucopogon virgatus var. virgatus". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 Powell, Jocelyn M.; Walsh, Neville G.; Brown, Elizabeth A. "Leucopogon virgatus var. virgatus". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  14. ↑ Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1995). "Ecology of Sydney Plants 3: families Cabombaceae to Eupomatiaceae". Cunninghamia. 4 (2): 376–377. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Threatened Species Link - Leucopogon virgatus var. brevifolius". Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
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