Weeping myoporum | |
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Myoporum floribundum in the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Lamiales |
Family: | Scrophulariaceae |
Genus: | Myoporum |
Species: | M. floribundum |
Binomial name | |
Myoporum floribundum | |
Synonyms | |
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Myoporum floribundum, commonly known as weeping myoporum or slender myoporum, is a sour-smelling glabrous shrub in the family Scrophulariaceae endemic to a small area of New South Wales and Victoria in Australia. It has long, thin, drooping leaves and profuse white flowers in clusters along the stems in spring. Although it is uncommon in nature, it has long been available as a popular garden plant.
Myoporum floribundum is an erect, spindly shrub which grows to a height of about 3 metres (10 ft). It has dark green, drooping leaves which are 20–110 millimetres (0.8–4 in) long, 1–2.5 millimetres (0.04–0.1 in) wide, linear in shape and dumbbell shaped in cross section. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
The flowers are white and sometimes so profuse that the branches appear as if covered with snow. They are arranged in clusters of between 6 and 8 in the leaf axils over many months but especially from October to December. The flowers have 5 sepals and 5 white petals joined at their bases to form a tube. The tube is 1.7–2 millimetres (0.067–0.079 in) long and the lobes are spreading, 2.2–3 millimetres (0.09–0.1 in) long with a pointed tip. There are 4 stamens which extend beyond the petals. The fruit is a flattened drupe which is brown when mature and 2–2.8 millimetres (0.08–0.1 in) long. [2] [3] [4]
Myoporum floribundum was first formally described in 1837 by George Bentham in Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad fluvium Cygnorum et in sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus Liber Baro de Hügel , the original having been written by Allan Cunningham (botanist) but not published. [1] [7] The specific epithet is derived from the "Latin floribundum, "profusely flowering". [2]
There are two disjunct populations of Myoporum floribundum, one in New South Wales and the other in Victoria. In New South Wales, the species is found below Jenolan Caves and near the Nepean River growing in sclerophyll forest. [3] In Victoria it is found in the Upper Snowy River and Deddick River valleys where it grows in woodland on steep gravelly slopes. [5]
The unusual foliage and profuse white flowers are the attractions of this species which has been known in cultivation for many years. It requires good drainage and at least partial sun but is frost and drought tolerant. It can be grown from seeds or from cuttings but does not respond well to harsh pruning. [4] [8]
Hibbertia stellaris, commonly known as star guinea flower or orange stars, is a brilliantly orange flowering ground cover from the South Western Australian botanical province. It naturally grows in swamps; despite this, it is extremely sensitive to phytophthora and needs to be grown in well-drained soil in cultivation.
Gompholobium huegelii, commonly known as common wedge-pea is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub with trifoliate leaves and cream-coloured to yellow and greenish, pea-like flowers.
Pomaderris ferruginea, commonly known as rusty pomaderris, is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a shrub with rusty-hairy stems, egg-shaped leaves, and clusters of cream-coloured, whitish or yellow flowers.
Myoporum caprarioides, commonly known as slender myoporum, is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. It is a shrub with wart-like tubercles covering its branches and leaves, especially on the upper surface and white flowers spotted with mauve, or all blue-mauve, present for most of the warmer months.
Darwinia vestita, commonly known as pom-pom darwinia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with crowded egg-shaped, oblong, or linear leaves and more or less spherical heads of white to reddish-pink flowers.
Boronia cymosa, commonly known as granite boronia, is a plant in the citrus family Rutaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with linear, more or less cylindrical leaves and groups of relatively small, pink four-petalled flowers arranged on branched flowering stems.
Hemiandra linearis, commonly known as speckled snakebush, is a species of prostrate to ascending shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.
Pomaderris prunifolia, commonly known as plum leaf pomaderris, is a plant in the family Rhamnaceae. It has slightly toothed, wrinkled green leaves, stems with rusty coloured star-shaped hairs and yellow flowers.
Comesperma integerrimum is a twining shrub or climber in the family Polygalaceae.
Goodenia pulchella is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect to ascending herb with lance-shaped leaves mostly at the base of the plant, and racemes of yellow flowers.
Gompholobium aristatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 10–80 cm (3.9–31.5 in). It flowers between July and December producing yellow, pea-like flowers. This species was first formally described in 1837 by George Bentham in Stephan Endlicher's Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad fluvium Cygnorum et in sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus Liber Baro de Hügel from specimens collected in the Swan River Colony. The specific epithet (aristatum) means "awned", referring to the leaves.
Hibbertia racemosa, commonly known as stalked guinea flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect or ascending, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 10–75 cm (3.9–29.5 in) and produces yellow flowers between July and December.
Kennedia carinata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with trifoliate leaves and reddish-purple, pea-like flowers.
Mirbelia spinosa is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spiny shrub with narrowly linear leaves and yellow, orange and reddish-brown flowers.
Lechenaultia floribunda, commonly known as free-flowering leschenaultia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an openly-branched shrub or subshrub with crowded, narrow, fleshy leaves and compact groups of pale blue to pale mauve or creamy white flowers.
Lasiopetalum cordifolium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with hairy stems, heart-shaped leaves and pink, cream-coloured or white flowers.
Sphaerolobium alatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a slender, leafless shrub with yellow and reddish-brown flowers from September to November.
Sphaerolobium fornicatum is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the far south-west of Western Australia. It is a leafless shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.1–1 m and has yellow or orange and red flowers from October to January.
Sphaerolobium grandiflorum is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an erect, slender, leafless shrub with red, yellow and orange flowers.
Spyridium majoranifolium is a species of flowering plant in the family Rhamnaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.1–1.6 m and has white to cream-coloured or yellow flowers from February to October. It grows on coastal dunes and stony hillsides in near-coastal areas in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Warren bioregions of southern Western Australia.