Patersonia fragilis

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Patersonia fragilis
Patersonia fragilis.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Iridaceae
Genus: Patersonia
Species:
P. fragilis
Binomial name
Patersonia fragilis
Synonyms [1]
  • Genosiris fragilisLabill.
  • Patersonia glauca R.Br.
Flower detail Patersonia fragilis (15623959658).jpg
Flower detail

Patersonia fragilis, commonly known as swamp iris [2] or short purple-flag, [3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb with linear, cylindrical leaves and pale violet to blue-violet flowers.

Contents

Description

Patersonia fragilis is a tufted or clump-forming perennial herb that typically grows to a height of 30–50 cm (12–20 in). There are three to six narrowly linear leaves 220–550 mm (8.7–21.7 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide on each shoot. The leaves are biconvex to circular in cross-section, glabrous, pale green to glaucous, and often have a sharply-pointed tip. [2] [4] [5] [6]

The flowering scape is 40–250 mm (1.6–9.8 in) long, striated and glabrous, with a smaller leaf clasping its base. The sheath enclosing the flowers is lance-shaped, 25–45 mm (0.98–1.77 in) long, green to pale brown. The petal-like sepals are pale violet to blue-violet, egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 12–23 mm (0.47–0.91 in) long and 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) wide with a thickened midvein and the stamens have filaments 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long joined for most of their length and the anthers are a similar length. Flowering occurs from August to December and the fruit is a cylindrical capsule 25–30 mm (0.98–1.18 in) long containing black seeds about 2.5 mm (0.098 in) long. [2] [4] [5] [6]

Leaf colour and width and the characteristics of the flowers varies even in the one location. In some coastal areas, the flowering scape may be less than 80 mm (3.1 in) long. [2]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1805 by Jacques Labillardière who gave it the name Genosiris fragilis in his Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen . [7] [8] In 1906, Paul Ascherson and Paul Graebner changed the name to Patersonia fragilis in their book, Synopsis der Mitteleuropaischen. [9] [10] The specific epithet (fragilis) means "brittle" or "fragile". [11]

Distribution and habitat

Swamp iris is endemic to eastern Australia and occurs from Kangaroo Island in the south-east of South Australia, through southern Victoria, northern and eastern Tasmania, the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, and south-eastern Queensland. It grows in heath, including wet heathland and wallum heathland. [2] [4] [5] [6] [12]

Life cycle

P. fragilis reproduces through bee pollination. Unlike the zygomorphic yellow flowers, according to the study by Faegri and van der Pijl, [13] purple zygomorphic flowers less commonly attract bees. This problem is highlighted by the unique characteristic of yellow flowers that provides nectar guides, which outline a path for bees to squeeze through to obtain the nectar. Being a flowering plant, P. fragilis follows the same process of pollination and fertilisation in continuation of the life cycle of the plant. [14]

Ecology

Through a recent botanical survey on the Nelson Bay River, a localised community of P. fragilis was found. [15] It is amongst a group of vegetation communities including the Western Wet Scrub and the Eucalyptus nitida Wet Forest. [15] The Patersonia fragilis, however, is in the Wet Heathlands. [15] In this community of flora, it is dominated by the Swamp Heath Sprengelia incarnata that is surviving despite the dry ground. [15] This plant grows to a maximum of 1.5 metres in height and is often surrounded by empty ground where there is a common absence of large shrubs and trees. [15] P. fragilis is amongst other species of plants in wet heathland, and though the diversity of associated species is limited, the community commonly consist of the Leptocarpus tenax, Selaginella uglinosa, Melaleuca squamea and Xyris sp. [15]

Use in horticulture

Patersonia fragilis can be propagated from seed but requires a constantly damp soil similar to its natural habitat. It can survive with either full or light sunshade and can only tolerate dry conditions for less than a week. [3]

Conservation

The wet vegetation communities of Patersonia fragilis may be subject to plant pathogens Phytophthora cinnamomi and myrtle wilt , both naturally occurring in the wetland regions of South Australia. [16] In areas receiving above 600mm of rainfall per annum, the roots of P. fragilis may be invaded by Phytophthora that is a soil-borne fungal pathogen. [16] It starves the plant of essential nutrients and water, and this fungus can navigate naturally through the soil to affect an entire healthy community of plants. [16] Phytophtora can be transported long distances by animals and humans where construction machinery or vehicles have passed. [16] Additionally, if the habitat of P. fragilis is situated close to a deforested site, there is a chance for myrtle wilt infection to the plant. [16] Commonly caused by the naturally occurring wind-borne fungi known as Chalara australis , P. fragilis can be infected if it possesses any open wounds in its stem. [16] This allows the fungus to enter the plant and attack the system by multiplying its spores inside the damaged plant. [16]

Related Research Articles

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

Patersonia, is a genus of plants whose species are commonly known as native iris or native flag and are native to areas from Malesia to Australia.

<i>Prostanthera lasianthos</i> Species of tree

Prostanthera lasianthos, commonly known as the Victorian Christmas bush or coranderrk , is a large shrub or small tree of the mint family, Lamiaceae, which is native to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia. It grows up to 10 m (35 ft) high but is usually much less and is found in wet sclerophyll forests, often beside creeks. Its flowers, which appear in profuse sprays, are about 2 cm long and white or pale lilac, with purple and orange blotches in the throat. They appear in late spring and summer, and specifically around Christmas time in Victoria. The fragrant, toothed leaves are 4 to 12 cm long and about 1.5 cm wide.

<i>Utricularia dichotoma</i> Species of plant

Utricularia dichotoma, commonly known as fairy aprons, is a variable, perennial species of terrestrial bladderwort. It is a widespread species with mauve or purple fan-shaped flowers on a slender stalk and usually grows in wet locations.

Patersonia maxwellii is a species of flowering plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a tufted, rhizome-forming perennial herb with linear leaves and violet tepals.

<i>Olearia ramulosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Olearia ramulosa, commonly known as twiggy daisy-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a shrub with narrowly elliptic, linear or narrowly egg-shaped leaves, and pale blue, mauve or white and yellow, daisy-like inflorescences.

<i>Comesperma volubile</i> Species of plant

Comesperma volubile, commonly known as love creeper, is a slender climber in the family Polygalaceae. It is a twining plant with linear leaves and pea-like blue flowers.

<i>Persoonia juniperina</i> Species of flowering plant

Persoonia juniperina, commonly known as prickly geebung, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a small erect to low-lying shrub with smooth bark, hairy new branches, linear leaves, yellow flowers borne singly or in groups of up to forty in leaf axils, and yellowish green to purplish fruit.

<i>Patersonia sericea</i> Species of flowering plant

Patersonia sericea, commonly known as purple flag or silky purple-flag is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a densely-tufted perennial herb with linear, sword-shaped leaves, broadly egg-shaped, bluish-violet tepals and an oval capsule.

<i>Patersonia occidentalis</i> Species of flowering plant

Patersonia occidentalis, commonly known as purple flag, or long purple-flag, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae and is endemic to southern Australia. It is a tufted, rhizome-forming perennial with narrow, sharply-pointed, strap-like leaves, egg-shaped, bluish violet sepals and a cylindrical capsule. The Noongar name for the plant is komma.

<i>Gaudium glaucescens</i> Species of shrub

Gaudium glaucescens, commonly known as the blue-green tea tree or smoky tea tree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to Tasmania. It has elliptical to egg-shaped leaves that are often greyish green, white flowers about 15 mm (0.59 in) in diameter arranged in consecutive leaf axils and fruit that remain on the plant for some time after maturity.

Patersonia borneensis is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of Borneo. It is a tufted perennial with many leaves and pale lavender to bluish-purple tepals on a flowering stem shorter than the leaves.

<i>Patersonia drummondii</i> Species of flowering plant

Patersonia drummondii, commonly known as Drummond's patersonia, is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted herb with linear, often twisted leaves and pale violet to purple or blue tepals.

<i>Patersonia glabrata</i> Species of plant in the family Iridaceae

Patersonia glabrata, commonly known as leafy purple-flag, or bugulbi in the Cadigal language, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a perennial herb or subshrub with linear leaves and pale violet flowers.

<i>Patersonia graminea</i> Species of flowering plant

Patersonia graminea, commonly known as grass-leaved patersonia, is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a clump-forming herb with linear, grass-like leaves and pale violet tepals.

Patersonia juncea, commonly known as rush leaved patersonia, is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb with linear leaves and pale violet tepals.

<i>Patersonia lanata</i> Species of plant in the family Iridaceae

Patersonia lanata, commonly known as woolly patersonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb with sword-shaped leaves and blue-violet flowers.

Patersonia limbata is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a tufted, rhizome-forming herb with sword-shaped, bordered leaves and violet tepals.

<i>Patersonia macrantha</i> Species of flowering plant

Patersonia macrantha is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the northern part of the Northern Territory. It is a tuft-forming herb with linear to sword-shaped leaves and pale violet tepals.

Patersonia pygmaea is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted, rhizome-forming perennial herb with sword-shaped leaves and bluish-violet to purple tepals.

<i>Patersonia umbrosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Patersonia umbrosa, commonly known as yellow flags, is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a loosely-tufted, rhizome-forming, perennial herb with linear to sword-shaped leaves and deep bluish-violet or bright yellow tepals.

References

  1. 1 2 "Patersonia fragilis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Cooke, David A. "Patersonia fragilis". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Patersonia fragilis". Yarra ranges council. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Patersonia fragilis". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 "Patersonia fragilis". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Conn, Barry J. "Patersonia fragilis". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  7. ↑ "Genosiris fragilis". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  8. ↑ Labillardière, Jacques (1805). Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen. Paris. p. 13. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "Patersonia fragilis". APNI. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  10. ↑ Ascherson, Paul F.A.; Graebner, Paul (1906). Synopsis der Mitteleuropaischen. Leipzig: W. Engelmann. p. 532. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  11. ↑ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 202. ISBN   9780958034180.
  12. ↑ Jordan, Greg. "Patersonia (Iridaceae)". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  13. ↑ Faegri, Knut (1979). The principles of pollination ecology. L. van der Pijl (3rd ed.). Oxford: Pergamon Press. ISBN   978-1-4832-9303-5. OCLC   680179517.
  14. ↑ Kingston, Andrew B.; Quillan, Peter B. (2000). "Are pollination syndromes useful predictors of floral visitors in Tasmania?". Austral Ecology. 25 (6): 600–609. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2000.tb00065.x.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Milner, Philip (2008). Botanical survey Nelson bay river for shree minerals LTD.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 North, Andrew; Barker, Phillip (2012). Flora and fauna habitat assessment and constraints analysis. pp. 7–8.
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