Wahlenbergia gracilis

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Wahlenbergia gracilis
W gracilis main photo.jpg
Not considered at risk (AERP)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Campanulaceae
Genus: Wahlenbergia
Species:
W. gracilis
Binomial name
Wahlenbergia gracilis

Wahlenbergia gracilis, commonly known as Australian Bluebell [2] or Sprawling Bluebell is a perennial tufted herb from the family Campanulaceae. [3] The species is widespread throughout eastern Australia, with a range from Cape York to southern Tasmania. [4] The species is not considered at risk. [5]

Contents

Distribution of Wahlenbergia gracilis Distribution of Wahlenbergia gracilis.png
Distribution of Wahlenbergia gracilis

Description

Wahlenbergia gracilis flowers amongst grass/sedges in central Tasmania W gracilis image2.jpg
Wahlenbergia gracilis flowers amongst grass/sedges in central Tasmania

Wahlenbergia gracilis is a perennial, tufted herb ranging from 5 to 80cm in height [6] which is usually erect or sprawling, and is multi-branched from basal stems. [3] Tghe stems branch from a thickened taproot. [7] Leaves are alternate, or sometimes opposite near to the base of the stem. [7] Leaves are usually obovate to narrowly elliptic on lower stem, and lanceolate to linear on the upper stem, commonly small between 2-60mm long and 0.2-10 mm wide. [4] Margins are flat or can be undulate, usually entire or sometimes with small, callus-teeth or occasionally serrate. [4] Leaves are glabrous, with lower leaves sometimes sparsely hirsute. [4] Conspicuous flowers are in thyrsoids which make up the upper half of the plant, pedicels are between 2-11cm long and glabrous or sometimes sparsely hirsute. [4] Bracteoles are linear and glabrous. [4] Hypanthium is obconic to obovoid in shape and glabrous. [4] W. gracilis usually has 5 sepals, but sometimes 3 or 4, usually 1-3mm long and narrowly triangular. The corolla is deeply campanulate in shape, 1-4.5mm long, blue/mauve in colour but sometimes pink or white, usually 5 lobes, but sometimes 3 or 4, elliptic to ovate, and 1.5 - 6mm long. [4] Ovary is usually 3-locular or sometimes 2-locular. [4] Flowers have been observed to open and close in response to light availability. [8] Capsule is obconic to obovoid in shape, 2.5-7mm long, 1.5-3.5 mm wide, glabrous. [4]

W. gracilis is sometimes difficult to distinguish from other Wahlenbergia species but is characterised by obconic to obovoid capsules, its perennial habit, and its deeply campanulate corolla. [4]

Habitat & Distribution

Wahlenbergia gracilis is native to Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Zealand and Tonga. [5] The Wahlenbergia genus is widespread throughout Australia. Wahlenbergia gracilis occurs mainly throughout eastern mainland Australia, with occurrences extending from Cape York Peninsula to southern Tasmania, and extending as far west as the Adelaide region.

Tolerant of many vegetation types, found in wet and dry forests, shrublands, woodlands and grasslands from moist but well-drained soil to poor, stony soils, and is well-adapted to disturbed sites. [3] In Tasmania, it is commonly found in grasslands and grassy woodlands. [9] Smith notes that a distinguishing feature of W. gracilis is that it is commonly found in mesic areas, meaning environments containing a moderate amount of water. [4]

Taxonomy

Wahlenbergia gracilis is an accepted species, first published in Monographie des Campanul?es 142 (1830). [10] There are seventeen synonyms of the species, [11] denoting some previous misidentification and difficulty in distinguishing Wahlenbergia species. [3]

Ecosystem Value

Wahlenbergia gracilis has a fibrous root system which can be important in stablizing soil and preventing erosion. [12] It also plays an important role for a number of native pollinators, including native bee species and a number of butterflies notably Vanessa kershawi (Australian painted lady), Zizina labradus (common grass-blue) and Ogyris olane (Eastern bronze-azure). [12] It may provide habitat and resources for a range of native insect. [12]

Alternative expression of 4-lobed W. gracilis photographed at Lake Crescent in central Tasmania. 4-lobed W. gracilis.jpg
Alternative expression of 4-lobed W. gracilis photographed at Lake Crescent in central Tasmania.
Wahlenbergia gracilis in grassy woodland adjacent to Lake Crescent in central Tasmania. W. gracilis close up.jpg
Wahlenbergia gracilis in grassy woodland adjacent to Lake Crescent in central Tasmania.

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Campanula</i> Genus of flowering plants in the bellflower family Campanulaceae

Campanula is the type genus of the Campanulaceae family of flowering plants. Campanula are commonly known as bellflowers and take both their common and scientific names from the bell-shaped flowers—campanula is Latin for "little bell".

<i>Wahlenbergia gloriosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Wahlenbergia gloriosa, commonly known as royal bluebell is a perennial herb in the bluebell family Campanulaceae. It has egg-shaped leaves near the base of its stem, linear leaves higher up and usually a single purple flower with a tube-shaped base. The flower is the floral emblem of the Australian Capital Territory.

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

Wahlenbergia is a genus of around 260 species of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae. Plants in this genus are perennial or annual herbs with simple leaves and blue to purple bell-shaped flowers, usually with five petals lobes. Species of Wahlenbergia are native to environments on all continents except North America, and on some isolated islands, but the greatest diversity occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.

<i>Wahlenbergia stricta</i> Species of plant

Wahlenbergia stricta, the Australian bluebell, tall bluebell or austral bluebell, is an Australian wildflower from the Campanulaceae family. It is considered the most commonly encountered of the Wahlenbergias. It is found in all Australian states but not the Northern Territory. It is often seen growing by the side of the road, enjoying the extra runoff.

<i>Edraianthus dalmaticus</i> Species of flowering plant

Edraianthus dalmaticus, or Dalmatian rockbell, is an ornamental plant in the Campanulaceae (bellflower) family.

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

Edraianthus is a small genus of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae. Edraianthus species are native to mountain regions of the Balkan, including Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia, and as far as Romania, Italy and Greece.

<i>Eurybia</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae

Eurybia is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae that were previously included in the genus Aster. Most species are native to North America, although one is also present in northern Eurasia. There are 23 species in the genus, including 1 natural hybrid. The name was first applied by Alexandre de Cassini in 1820. The name is derived from Ancient Greek εὐρύς (eurús), meaning "wide", and βαιός (baiós), meaning "few", perhaps in reference to the small number of relatively wide ray florets.

<i>Isotoma fluviatilis</i> Species of plant

Isotoma fluviatilis, the swamp isotome or blue star creeper, is a small herbaceous perennial plant in the family Campanulaceae, native to Australia.

<i>Wahlenbergia capillaris</i> Species of flowering plant

Wahlenbergia capillaris, commonly known as tufted bluebell, is a plant in the family Campanulaceae and is native to Australia and New Guinea. It is an erect perennial herb with a few to many stems and grows to a height of 50 cm (20 in). The leaves are mostly linear with a few scattered teeth on the sides and the flowers are blue, bell-shaped with five lobes and arranged in cymes. This bluebell is widespread and common, occurring in all Australian mainland states and territories.

<i>Wahlenbergia queenslandica</i> Species of plant

Wahlenbergia queenslandica is a small herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to Western Australia, to New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and South Australia.

<i>Wahlenbergia ceracea</i> Species of flowering plant

Wahlenbergia ceracea, commonly known as the waxy bluebell, is a small herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to eastern Australia.

<i>Wahlenbergia fluminalis</i> Species of plant

Wahlenbergia fluminalis, commonly known as the river bluebell, is a small herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to eastern Australia.

Wahlenbergia graniticola, commonly known as the granite bluebell, is a herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to eastern Australia.

Wahlenbergia glabra is a small herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to eastern Australia.

Wahlenbergia planiflora, commonly known as flat bluebell, is a small herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to eastern Australia.

<i>Wahlenbergia scopulicola</i> Species of flowering plant

Wahlenbergia scopulicola is a herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to eastern Australia.

<i>Wahlenbergia saxicola</i> Species of flowering plant

Wahlenbergia saxicola, commonly known as the rock bluebell, is a herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to Tasmania in Australia.

<i>Wahlenbergia capensis</i> Species of flowering plant

Wahlenbergia capensis, commonly known as the Cape bluebell, is a plant in the family Campanulaceae and is native to the Cape Province but has been introduced to Australia. It is an annual herb with up to four greenish blue, bell-shaped flowers with spreading petal lobes.

Gutenbergia rueppellii is an African species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.

<i>Wahlenbergia gymnoclada</i> Species of plant

Wahlenbergia gymnoclada, commonly known as the naked bluebell, is a species of plant of the family Campanulaceae and is native to Australia. It is one of 200 species, in the Wahlenbergia genus. Of these species, 26 occur in Australia, including one introduced, and Tasmania has seven species of native Wahlenbergia. Species in this genus are “all slender perennial herbs and most species occur in grassy vegetation, although one occurs in rocky alpine areas. “The slender pedicels with delicate blue, symmetrical, flowers make this a relatively distinctive genus. The corolla tube is bell shaped, often with more or less spreading lobes”.

References

  1. ↑ "Campanulaceae Wahlenbergia gracilis ( G.Forst. ) A.DC". International Plant Names Index . Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Wahlenbergia gracilis (G.Forst.) A.DC. - Australian Bluebell". Atlas of Living Australia . Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Greening Australia. "Wahlenbergia gracilis - Fact Sheet" (PDF). Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Smith, Peter (30 September 1992). "A revIsion of the genus Wahlenbergia (Campanulaceae) in Australia". Telopea. 5 (1): 91–175.
  5. 1 2 "Wahlenbergia gracilis (G.Forst.) A.DC. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  6. ↑ "PlantNET - FloraOnline". plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  7. 1 2 "VicFlora: Wahlenbergia gracilis". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  8. ↑ "Wahlenbergia gracilis". Fort Bushland Reserve. 2012-03-26. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  9. ↑ "Key to Tasmanian Dicots". www.utas.edu.au. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  10. ↑ "WFO Plant List | World Flora Online". wfoplantlist.org. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  11. ↑ "Wahlenbergia gracilis (G.Forst.) A.DC. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  12. 1 2 3 "Wahlenbergia gracilis (Tufted Bluebell) Australian Native Plant Profile". Whipbird Environmental. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
Herbarium specimen of W. gracilis found in Tasmania. Herbarium specimen.jpg
Herbarium specimen of W. gracilis found in Tasmania.


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