Phebalium daviesii

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St Helens wax flower
Phebalium daviesii close up.jpg
In the ANBG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Phebalium
Species:
P. daviesii
Binomial name
Phebalium daviesii

Phebalium daviesii, commonly known as St Helens wax flower [2] or Davies' wax flower, [3] is a species of shrub that is endemic to a restricted area in Tasmania. It is more or less covered with silvery or rust-coloured scales and has narrow wedge-shaped leaves with a notched tip, and umbels of white to cream-coloured, five-petalled flowers.

Contents

Description

Phebalium daviesii is a shrub that grows to a height of 1–3 m (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in) and is more or less covered with silvery or rust-coloured scales. The leaves are narrow wedge-shaped, up to 20 mm (0.79 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.039–0.118 in) wide with a notched tip, a short petiole and glabrous on the upper surface. The flowers are white to cream-coloured and arranged in sessile umbels on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a pedicel about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. The sepals are joined to form a hemispherical calyx 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide with triangular lobes. The five petals are broadly elliptical, about 3 mm (0.12 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. Flowering occurs from September to November. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy

Phebalium daviesii was first formally described in 1859 by Joseph Dalton Hooker and the description was published in The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. Discovery ships Erebus and Terror. III. Flora Tasmaniae . [6] [7]

Distribution and habitat

St Helens wax flower is only found in a small area along 4.5 km (2.8 mi) of the George River near St. Helens on Tasmania's north-east coast. It grows in Eucalyptus viminalis woodland with a heathy understorey. [5] [3]

Conservation status

This phebalium is listed as "critically endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and a recovery plan has been prepared. It was assumed to be extinct, having not been collected since 1892, until it was rediscovered in 1990, although in 2001, only 23 mature individuals were recorded. The main threats to the species are its small population size, damage caused by flooding and susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi fungus. [3] [8]

Use in horticulture

St Helens wax flower can be readily grown from cuttings and has been propagated in several plant nurseries. [2]

Culture

In 2001, each Australian state nominated a native flower as a floral emblem to celebrate the centenary of the Federation of Australia. The St Helens wax flower was chosen as the Tasmanian Federation Flower. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Phebalium whitei</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium whitei is a small shrub that is endemic to south-east Queensland. It has branchlets covered with silvery and rust-coloured scales, leathery, oblong to elliptic leaves and bright yellow flowers arranged in sessile umbels on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Phebalium stenophyllum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium stenophyllum, commonly known as narrow-leaved phebalium, is a species of small shrub that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has scaly branchlets, narrow oblong to more or less cylindrical leaves and yellow flowers in umbels of three to ten.

<i>Phebalium squamulosum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium squamulosum , commonly known as scaly phebalium or forest phebalium, is a species of shrub or slender tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has smooth branches covered with rust-coloured scales, linear to elliptical or egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and pale to bright yellow flowers in umbels with rust-coloured or silvery scales on the back.

<i>Phebalium nottii</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium nottii, commonly known as pink phebalium, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has branchlets with silvery scales, oblong to elliptical leaves, deep pink to mauve flowers arranged in umbels of up to six, with the stamens distinctively offset to one side of the flower.

<i>Phebalium glandulosum</i> Species of plant

Phebalium glandulosum, commonly known as desert phebalium, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has glandular-warty stems covered with silvery to rust-coloured scales, wedge-shaped leaves that are scaly on the lower surface, and yellow flowers arranged in umbels on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Phebalium canaliculatum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium canaliculatum is a species of erect shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is more or less covered with silvery and rust-coloured scales and has thin, cylindrical leaves and dark pink to pale mauve flowers in umbels on the ends of branches.

Phebalium brachycalyx is a species of shrub that is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is more or less covered with silvery and rust-coloured scales, and has narrow oblong leaves with wavy-glandular edges, and white to pale yellow flowers in umbels on the ends of branches.

Phebalium brevifolium is a species of small shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has warty branchlets, sessile, wedge-shaped leaves and up to three white flowers arranged in umbels.

Phebalium elegans is a species of spreading shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has warty branchlets, wedge-shaped leaves and two to five white flowers arranged in umbels on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Phebalium filifolium</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium filifolium, commonly known as slender phebalium, is a species of upright, rounded shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has smooth branchlets covered with silvery scales, more or less cylindrical leaves with silvery scales on the lower side and pale to bright yellow flowers arranged in umbels of between three and eight on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Phebalium laevigatum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium laevigatum is a species of erect, slender shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has glandular-warty branchlets, linear to narrow oblong leaves and white or yellow flowers arranged in umbels of about seven on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Phebalium lepidotum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium lepidotum is a species of rounded shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has scaly branchlets, leathery, narrow oblong leaves and white to cream-coloured flowers arranged in umbels of between three and six on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Phebalium lowanense</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium lowanense, commonly known as the Lowan phebalium, is a species of slender shrub that is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is more or less covered with silvery and rust-coloured scales and has leaves appearing to be cylindrical, and yellow mauve flowers in umbels on the ends of branches.

<i>Phebalium megaphyllum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium megaphyllum is a species of erect, rounded shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has glandular-warty branchlets, oblong to wedge-shaped leaves with a groove on the upper surface, and white flowers arranged in umbels of three to six on the ends of branchlets.

Phebalium microphyllum is a species of small, rounded shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has scaly branchlets, leathery, oblong leaves, and yellow flowers arranged in umbels of three to six on the ends of branchlets.

<i>Phebalium obcordatum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium obcordatum, commonly known as the club-leaved phebalium, is a species of shrub that is endemic to New South Wales. It has smooth branchlets, small egg-shaped to heart-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and small umbels of pale yellow flowers with silvery scales on the back of the petals.

Phebalium obovatum is a species of spreading shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has thick, egg-shaped or elliptical leaves densely covered with silvery scales on the lower side and white flowers arranged in umbels with silvery or rust-coloured scales on the back.

<i>Phebalium tuberculosum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium tuberculosum is a species of erect shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has glandular-warty and scaly branchlets and leaves and white flowers arranged in umbels of three or four with rust-coloured scales on the back of the petals.

<i>Phebalium verrucosum</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium verrucosum is a species of shrub that is endemic to New South Wales. It has branchlets densely covered with white scales, narrow elliptic, oblong or linear leaves covered with white scales on the lower side, and umbels of creamy white flowers with silvery or rust-coloured scales on the back of the petals.

<i>Phebalium woombye</i> Species of shrub

Phebalium woombye, commonly known as wallum phebalium, is a species of shrub that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has branchlets covered with scales and star-shaped hairs, elliptical leaves, and white to pink flowers arranged in umbels of four to ten flowers.

References

  1. ↑ "Phebalium daviesii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Federation Flower for Tasmania". Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Threatened Species Listing Statement - Davies' wax flower, Phebalium daviesii". Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Wilson, Paul G. (1970). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Genera Crowea, Eriostemon and Phebalium (Rutaceae). Nuytsia 1(1)". Nuytsia. 1 (1): 87. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  5. 1 2 Wilson, Paul G. "Phebalium daviesii". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Canberra. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Phebalium daviesii". APNI. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  7. ↑ Hooker, Joseph Dalton (1859). The botany of the Antarctic voyage of H.M. discovery ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839-1843 :under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross /. London: Lovell Reeve. p. 358. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  8. ↑ "Phebalium daviesii Flora Recovery Plan" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
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