Petrophile pulchella

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Conesticks
Petrophile pulchella flowers 1.jpg
Blackheath, Australia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Petrophile
Species:
P. pulchella
Binomial name
Petrophile pulchella
Synonyms [1]
List
    • Protea pulchellaSchrad. & J.C.Wendl.
    • Petrophile pulchella(Schrad. & J.C.Wendl.) R.Br. var. pulchella
    • Petrophile pulchella var. typicaDomin nom. inval.
    • Protea fucifolia Salisb.
    • Protea dichotoma Cav.
    • Petrophile fucifolia(Salisb.) Knight
    • Atylus fucifolia B.D.Jacks. nom. inval., pro syn.
Old cones, Bombi Moors, Bouddi National Park Petrophile pulchella fruit 1.jpg
Old cones, Bombi Moors, Bouddi National Park

Petrophile pulchella, commonly known as conesticks, [2] is a common shrub of the family Proteaceae and is found in eastern Australia. The leaves are divided with needle-shaped but soft pinnae, the flowers silky-hairy, cream-coloured and arranged in oval heads and the fruit are arranged in oval heads. Conesticks grows on shallow sandstone soils, often in open forest or heathlands near the coast. It is also occasionally seen on the adjacent ranges.

Contents

Description

Petrophile pulchella is a shrub that typically grows to a height of 1.5–3 m (4 ft 11 in–9 ft 10 in) in sheltered locations but to only 50 cm (20 in) in exposed heathland. The branchlets and leaves are softly-hairy at first but become glabrous with age. The leaves are 40–90 mm (1.6–3.5 in) long on a petiole 30–50 mm (1.2–2.0 in) long, and divided two or three times with needle-shaped pinnae but that are soft rather than sharp-tipped. The flowers are arranged in leaf axils and on the ends of branchlets in oval heads 20–35 mm (0.79–1.38 in) long and are sessile or on a peduncle up to about 6 mm (0.24 in) long. The flowers are 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long, cream-coloured and silky-hairy. Flowering mostly occurs from August to March and the fruit is a nut 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, fused with others in an oval head up to 65 mm (2.6 in) long. This species is distinguished from P. pedunculata by its flowerheads that are on peduncles 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long. The two other species in eastern Australia, P. canescens and P. sessilis , both have finely hairy new growth. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy

The shrub was first formally described in 1796 by Heinrich Schrader and Johann Christoph Wendland who gave it the name Protea pulchella in Sertum Hannoveranum, from the original specimen collected at Botany Bay. [5] [6] In 1810, the prolific botanist Robert Brown reclassified it in the new genus Petrophile as P. pulchella, publishing the name change in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London . [7] [8] The specific epithet pulchella meaning “beautiful” is derived from Latin, [9] although noted plant author John Wrigley feels it to be somewhat of a misnomer. Joseph Knight, who had propagated and cultivated it successfully in England by 1809, reported, "It has few claims to a place in our collections." [3]

Distribution and habitat

Petrophile pulchella is found from south-eastern Queensland and south along the coast and adjacent tablelands to Jervis Bay in New South Wales. It often grows with trees such as Sydney peppermint ( Eucalyptus piperita ), smooth-barked apple ( Angophora costata ) or more open woodland e.g. with scribbly gum ( Eucalyptus sclerophylla ), silvertop ash ( E. sieberi ) or with shrubs such as mountain devil ( Lambertia formosa ), broad-leaved drumsticks ( Isopogon anemonifolius ) and paperbark tea-tree ( Leptospermum trinervium ). [2] [4] [10]

Ecology

Conesticks is killed by fire and regenerates afterwards by canopy-stored seedbank. Plants can live up to 60 years in nature. [10] A field study in Brisbane Water National Park found that Petrophile pulchella had greater reproductive output in areas that had had two short intervals of under seven years between fires, over areas that had had one short interval, and that plants in these latter areas had greater reproductive output than areas with no intervals under seven years between fires. [11] Seeds can germinate up to 700 days after a bushfire, and it is possible that the seedbank could theoretically last up to 90 years between fires. [12] Native bees are possible pollinators of this species. [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Isopogon anemonifolius</i> A shrub of the family Proteaceae that is found only in eastern New South Wales in Australia

Isopogon anemonifolius, commonly known as broad-leaved drumsticks, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae that is native only to eastern New South Wales in Australia. It occurs naturally in woodland, open forest, and heathland on sandstone soils. I. anemonifolius usually ranges between one and two metres in height, and is generally smaller in exposed heathland. Its leaves are divided and narrow, though broader than those of the related Isopogon anethifolius, and have a purplish tinge during the cooler months. The yellow flowers appear during late spring or early summer and are displayed prominently. They are followed by round grey cones, which give the plant its common name drumsticks. The small hairy seeds are found in the old flower parts.

<i>Isopogon anethifolius</i> Shrub in the family Proteaceae

Isopogon anethifolius, commonly known as narrow-leaf drumsticks or narrow-leafed drumsticks, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae. The species is found only in coastal areas near Sydney in New South Wales, and to the immediate west. It occurs naturally in woodland, open forest and heathland on sandstone soils. An upright shrub, it can reach to 3 m (10 ft) in height, with terete leaves that are divided and narrow. The yellow flowers appear in the Spring, from September to December, and are prominently displayed. They are followed by round grey cones, which give the plant its common name of drumsticks. The small hairy seeds are found in the old flower parts.

<i>Petrophile shirleyae</i> Species of shrub native to Queensland in eastern Australia

Petrophile shirleyae is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a shrub with pinnate, needle-shaped, sharply-pointed leaves, and narrow oval heads of silky-hairy white to pale cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Petrophile pedunculata</i> Species of shrub of the family Proteaceae found in eastern Australia

Petrophile pedunculata, commonly known as conesticks, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It has divided leaves with needle-shaped pinnae and oval heads of sparsely hairy yellow or cream-coloured flowers, the heads on a peduncle 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long.

<i>Petrophile canescens</i> Species of shrub of the family Proteaceae found in eastern Australia

Petrophile canescens, commonly known as conesticks, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with pinnately-divided leaves and oval heads of hairy, white to pale cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Petrophile sessilis</i> Species of a shrub of the family Proteaceae found in eastern Australia

Petrophile sessilis, known as conesticks, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an erect shrub with rigid, needle-shaped, divided, sharply-pointed leaves, and oval, spike-like heads of silky-hairy, creamy-yellow flowers.

Petrophile chrysantha is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a small shrub with crowded, sharply-pointed, pinnately-divided leaves, and oval heads of hairy, cream-coloured to dark yellow flowers.

Petrophile circinata is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a low, spreading shrub with pinnately-divided, sharply-pointed leaves, and more or less spherical heads of hairy, white, yellow or cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Petrophile conifera</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile conifera is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a bushy, much-branched shrub with pinnate, sharply-pointed leaves, and oval heads of hairy, cream-coloured to yellowish white flowers.

Petrophile crispata is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a shrub with pinnately-divided leaves with sharply-pointed tips, and oval heads of glabrous, yellow flowers.

<i>Petrophile divaricata</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile divaricata is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a shrub with bipinnate, sharply-pointed leaves, and oval to oblong heads of hairy, yellow flowers.

<i>Petrophile diversifolia</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile diversifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a shrub with pinnate, sharply-pointed leaves, and oval heads of densely hairy, white or creamy-white flowers.

<i>Petrophile drummondii</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile drummondii is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a shrub with rigid, pinnate leaves with needle-shaped, sharply-pointed pinnae, and spherical heads of hairy, fragrant, yellow flowers.

<i>Petrophile glauca</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile glauca is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a shrub with pinnately-divided, flattened, glaucous leaves and more or less spherical heads of hairy yellow to creamy-white flowers.

Petrophile nivea is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a small shrub with crowded cylindrical, sharply-pointed leaves and more or less spherical heads of hairy white or cream-coloured flowers on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Petrophile pauciflora</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile pauciflora is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to western areas of Western Australia. It is a shrub usually with three-forked leaves, the lobes sharply-pointed, and spherical heads of small groups of hairy yellow or orange flowers.

<i>Petrophile prostrata</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile prostrata is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with needle-shaped but usually not sharply-pointed leaves and spherical heads of hairy, pale yellow or cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Petrophile scabriuscula</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile scabriuscula is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a dense, prickly shrub with sharply-pointed, needle-shaped leaves more or less pressed against the branchlets, and oval heads of hairy, yellow to creamy-yellow flowers.

<i>Petrophile striata</i> Species of shrub endemic to Western Australia

Petrophile striata is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to southwestern Western Australia. It is a shrub with pinnate or bipinnate, striated, sharply-pointed leaves, and oval heads of silky-hairy yellow, creamy-yellow or cream-coloured flowers.

Petrophile multisecta, commonly known as Kangaroo Island conesticks, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It is a prickly shrub with rigid, much-divided leaves with sharply pointed tips, oval to spherical heads of hairy cream-coloured flowers and oval fruit.

References

  1. 1 2 "Petrophile pulchella". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Harden, Gwen. "Petrophile pulchella". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 Wrigley, John; Fagg, Murray (1991). Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. pp. 499, 506. ISBN   0-207-17277-3.
  4. 1 2 Foreman, David B. "Petrophile pulchella". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  5. ↑ "Protea pulchella". APNI. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  6. ↑ Schrader, Heinrich; Wendland, Johann Christoph (1796). Sertum Hannoveranum 2. p. 15. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "Petrophile pulchella". APNI. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  8. ↑ Brown, Robert (1810). "On the Proteaceae of Jussieu". Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 10 (1): 69. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  9. ↑ Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN   978-0-7318-1211-0 page 103
  10. 1 2 3 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (2000). "Ecology of Sydney Plant Species Part 7b: Dicotyledon families Proteaceae to Rubiaceae". Cunninghamia. 6 (4): 1017–1202.
  11. ↑ Knox, Kirsten J.E.; Morrison, David A. (2005). "Effects of inter‐fire intervals on the reproductive output of resprouters and obligate seeders in the Proteaceae" (PDF). Austral Ecology. 30: 407–13. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01482.x. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-03-31.
  12. ↑ Myerscough, P.J.; Whelan, R.J.; Bradstock, R.A. (2001). "Ecology of Proteaceae with special reference to the Sydney region". Cunninghamia. 6 (4): 951–1015. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
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