Teucrium racemosum

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Grey germander
Teucrium racemosum.jpg
Teucrium racemosum in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Teucrium
Species:
T. racemosum
Binomial name
Teucrium racemosum
Habit Teucrium racemosum habit.jpg
Habit

Teucrium racemosum, also commonly referred to as either the grey germander [2] or forest germander, [3] is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is endemic to Australia and is found in all mainland states, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. It grows in floodplains, dry lake beds and open woodlands. A perennial herb, it has four-sided, densely hairy stems, narrow egg-shaped leaves, and white flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils. It grows to be between 15 and 40 cm tall.

Contents

Description

Teucrium racemosum is a perennial herb that grows to a height of between 15 and 40 cm (5.9 and 15.7 in). It is a root suckering plant, meaning that it spreads by pushing up new shoots around the perimeter of its original base. Due to this root suckering ability, it is not uncommon for the Teucrium racemosum to spread to a diameter of several metres. The stems are white or greyish and densely covered with curved hairs pressed against the stem but that are usually lost from the stem's ridges. The leaves are a narrow oval shape, densely hairy, especially on the lower surface, usually 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long and 2–6 mm (0.079–0.236 in) wide. The edges of the leaves are sometimes somewhat lobed, rolled under or wavy. The flowers are usually arranged singly in leaf axils near the ends of branches on a pedicel that is 5–18 mm (0.20–0.71 in) long. The pedicel is often horizontal near its far end with the flower held erect. The sepals are 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long, densely hairy and fused at the base for about half of their length. The petals are 8–14 mm (0.31–0.55 in) long, with the lower middle lobe usually 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long, the four stamens 8–14 mm (0.31–0.55 in) long. Flowering occurs from September to June. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy

Teucrium racemosum was first described in 1810 by Scottish botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae . [7] Teucrium is a genus of the family Lamiaceae. The genus Teucrium was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum in 1753. [8] Teucrium has around 300 species, of which 13 are endemic to Australia. [9]

Distribution and habitat

Teucrium racemosum is found in all states and territories of Australia apart from Tasmania. [3] It grows on floodplains, dry lake beds and open woodlands. It is also often found around ephemeral lakes or disturbed areas. [3] [10]

Reproduction

As is the case with many Lamiaceae, Teucrium racemosum uses gynodioecy as a method of reproduction. [11] Gynodioecy is a breeding system consisting of male and hermaphroditic plants in a population. [12] Gynodioecy occurs as a consequence of genetic mutation that prevents a hermaphroditic plant from producing pollen, while keeping the female reproductive parts intact. [13] In gynodioecious species, female plants often have much smaller anthers (the part of the stamen where pollen is produced) and as a result produce little to no pollen, whilst in hermaphroditic flowers both male and female sexes are functional. [14] Genetic conflict often arises in these plants, and it is a common observation for female plants to produce more seeds and healthier, higher quality seed than the hermaphroditic plants. [15] This is thought to be because of the extra energy that female plants have access to as a result of not producing pollen. [14] Gynodioecy is an extremely rare form of reproduction, with the Teucrium racemosum being part of just 1% of all plants that exhibit a gynodioecious mating system. [16] Flowering occurs from September to June. [3]

Conservation

Teucrium racemosum is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, and as "least concern" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the Northern Territory Government Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 . [17] [18] [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

Teucrium is a cosmopolitan genus of flowering plants in the mint family Lamiaceae, commonly known as germanders. Plants in this genus are perennial herbs or shrubs, with branches that are more or less square in cross-section, leaves arranged in opposite pairs, and flowers arranged in thyrses, the corolla with mostly white to cream-coloured, lobed petals.

<i>Teucrium scorodonia</i> Species of herb

Teucrium scorodonia, common name the woodland germander or wood sage, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Teucrium of the family Lamiaceae. It is native to Western Europe and Tunisia, but cultivated in many places as an ornamental plant in gardens, and naturalized in several regions.

<i>Teucrium fruticans</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium fruticans is a species of flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to the western and central Mediterranean. Growing to 1 m (3 ft) tall by 4 m (13 ft) wide, it is a spreading evergreen shrub with arching velvety white shoots, glossy aromatic leaves and pale blue flowers in summer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gynodioecy</span> Coexistence of female and hermaphrodite within a population

Gynodioecy is a rare breeding system that is found in certain flowering plant species in which female and hermaphroditic plants coexist within a population. Gynodioecy is the evolutionary intermediate between hermaphroditism and dioecy.

<i>Teucrium corymbosum</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium corymbosum, commonly known as forest germander, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is native to Australia and New Guinea. It is a perennial herb or subshrub densely covered with glands and with narrow egg-shaped leaves usually with toothed edges, and groups of mostly up to ten white flowers.

<i>Symphyotrichum racemosum</i> Species of flowering plant in family Asteraceae

Symphyotrichum racemosum is a species of flowering plant native to parts of the United States and introduced in Canada. It is known as smooth white oldfield aster and small white aster. It is a perennial, herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a late-summer and fall blooming flower.

<i>Teucrium albicaule</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium albicaule, commonly known as scurfy germander, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to inland areas of Australia. It is a hoary, perennial herb that spreads by root suckers, forming dense stands. The leaves are trifoliate and the white flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils.

<i>Teucrium argutum</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium argutum, commonly known as native germander, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a perennial herb often suckering, with hairy, broadly egg-shaped leaves with toothed or wavy edges, and pink-purple flowers.

Teucrium betchei is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a perennial herb or undershrub with rod-like stems, linear to very narrow lance-shaped leaves and white flowers.

Teucrium disjunctum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to inland Australia. It is an erect, openly-branched, hairy, greyish-white shrub, usually with egg-shaped to elliptic leaves, and white flowers arranged singly in leaf axils.

Teucrium grandiusculum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to central Australia. It is a perennial herb or shrub with toothed, egg-shaped leaves and white flowers.

<i>Teucrium integrifolium</i> Species of plants

Teucrium integrifolium, commonly known as teucry weed or green germander, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is a perennial herb with broadly elliptic to broadly egg-shaped leaves and white or cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Teucrium junceum</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium junceum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a scrambling, openly-branched shrub, with small leaves, white flowers and orange to red fruit.

Teucrium micranthum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to a restricted area of Queensland. It is an erect subshrub with small, aromatic, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves and small white flowers.

Teucrium myriocladum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with small, hairy leaves and creamy-green flowers.

Teucrium pilbaranum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is an upright subshrub with three-part or deeply-lobed leaves and white flowers.

<i>Teucrium puberulum</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium puberulum, commonly known as red berry stick plant, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to inland areas of eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub covered with star-shaped hairs, and with linear to lance-shaped leaves, greenish-white flowers and reddish fruit.

Teucrium reidii is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to north-western South Australia. It is a shrub with egg-shaped leaves with blunt teeth on the edges, and white flowers arranged in spike-like groups.

Teucrium sessiliflorum, commonly known as camel bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb with hairy, egg-shaped, lobed leaves and white or cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Teucrium teucriiflorum</i> Species of flowering plant

Teucrium teucriiflorum is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, and is endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of Australia. It is a semi-scandent shrub with many branches, linear to narrow lance-shaped or narrow egg-shaped leaves and creamy-white flowers.

References

  1. ↑ "Teucrium racemosum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  2. 1 2 Conn, Barry J. "Teucrium racemosum". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Conn, Barry J. "Teucrium racemosum". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "Teucrium racemosum". Botanic Gardens of South Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Teucrium racemosum". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  6. ↑ Toelken, Hellmut R. (1985). "Notes on Teucrium L. (Labiatae)" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 7 (3): 295. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  7. ↑ Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, Brown R., 1810 p. 1802-1805
  8. ↑ Species Plantarum, Linnaeus C., 1753, p. 562, retrieved 12 May 2021
  9. ↑ "Genus Teucrium". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Teucrium racemosum - Plant Selector, 2021, Botanic Gardens of South Australia, http://plantselector.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/Plants/Details/2879
  11. ↑ Floral Construction and Pollination Biology in the Lamiaceae, Claßen-Bockhoff R., Annals of Botany, 2007, 100 (2), p. 350-360,https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcm157
  12. ↑ Gynodioecy in Teucrium racemosum, O'Brian E.& Walsh P., 2013, Muelleria, Volume 31, p. 77-80
  13. ↑ A Model for the evolution of Dioecy and Gynodioecy, Charlesworth B. & Charlesworth D., 1978, The American Naturalist, p. 975, The University of Chicago Press journals
  14. 1 2 Recent Advances in the Study of Gynodioecy: the interface of theory and empiricism, Bailey M. & McCauley D.E., 2009, Annals of Botany, 104(4), p, 611-620
  15. ↑ Effects of male sterility on reproductive traits in gunodioecious plants: a meta-analysis, Shykoff J.A., Kolokotronis S.O., Collin C.L. & Lopez-Villavicencio M., 2003, Oecologia, 135(1), p. 1-9
  16. ↑ Pollen-Stigma interference in two Gynodioecious Species of Lamiaceae with Intermediate Individuals, Rodriguez-Riano T. & Amots D., 2007, Annals of Botany, 100(2), p. 423-431
  17. ↑ "Teucrium racemosum". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  18. ↑ "Species profile - Teucrium racemosum". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  19. ↑ "Teucrium racemosum". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
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