Woollsia

Last updated

Woollsia
Wildflower Woodford Blue Mountains.jpg
In Blue Mountains National Park
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Subfamily: Epacridoideae
Tribe: Epacrideae
Genus: Woollsia
F.Muell. [1]
Species:
W. pungens
Binomial name
Woollsia pungens

Woollsia pungens, commonly known as snow heath, [3] is the sole species in the flowering plant genus Woollsia in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a small shrub with egg-shaped leaves with a heart-shaped base, white to dark pink, tube-shaped flowers and small capsules containing many small seeds.

Contents

Description

Woollsia pungens is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.2–2 m (7.9 in – 6 ft 6.7 in) and has hairy stems. The leaves are egg-shaped, 3.5–12 mm (0.14–0.47 in) long and 1.5–6 mm (0.059–0.236 in) wide on a petiole up to 1 mm (0.039 in) long, and have a rounded to heart-shaped base and a sharp point on the end. The flowers are white to dark pink, 8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in) in diameter and sweetly-scented. There are hairy bracts and sepals 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long. The petals are joined at the base, forming a tube 7–14 mm (0.28–0.55 in) long with spreading lobes 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. Flowering occurs in most months, and the fruit is a capsule about 2.5 mm (0.098 in) in diameter, containing many small seeds. [4] [5]

Taxonomy

Antonio José Cavanilles described the species as Epacris pungens in 1797, from material collected in the Sydney district. [6] Victorian state botanist Ferdinand von Mueller proposed the new genus Woollsia in 1873 in his Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae , [7] though did not publish its new binomial name (Woollsia pungens) until 1875. [8] [9] The genus name (Woollsia) honours William Woolls [3] and the specific epithet (pungens) means "ending in a sharp, hard point". [10]

Genetic analysis indicates that this species is an early offshoot of a lineage that includes Lysinema ciliatum and the genus Epacris . [11] [12]

Distribution and habitat

Woollsia pungens grows in heathland with such species as saw banksia ( Banksia serrata ), mountain devil ( Lambertia formosa ), grasstree ( Xanthorrhoea resinifera ), and open sclerophyll forest under such trees as Sydney peppermint ( Eucalyptus piperita ), scribbly gum ( E. haemastoma ) and red bloodwood ( Corymbia gummifera ). [5] It grows along the coast and in the upper Blue Mountains from Pigeon House Mountain in southern New South Wales to south-east Queensland. [4] [5]

Ecology

Plants are thought to live 10–20 years in the wild. They are generally killed by bushfire, with new seedlings growing from seed stored in the soil. [5]

Use in horticulture

In cultivation, snow heath grows best in a part-shaded spot with good drainage and ample moisture. It can be propagated by cuttings or seed. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Banksia oreophila</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to the south-west of Western Australia

Banksia oreophila, commonly known as the western mountain banksia or mountain banksia, is a species of shrub that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has glabrous stems, wedge-shaped or narrow egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, cylindrical spikes of pale pink to mauve flowers and later, up to twenty follicles in each spike, surrounded by the remains of the flowers. It occurs on slopes and hilltops in the Stirling and Barren Ranges.

<i>Banksia quercifolia</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae from the south coast of Western Australia

Banksia quercifolia, commonly known as the oak-leaved banksia, is a species of shrub that is endemic to the southwestern coast of Western Australia. It has smooth, greenish bark, wavy, wedge-shaped, serrated leaves, yellow, orange or brown flowers in cylindrical spikes, followed by broadly linear follicles surrounded by the remains of the flowers.

<i>Acacia alpina</i> Species of legume

Acacia alpina, commonly known as alpine wattle is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to alpine and subalpine regions of south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect or spreading shrub or tree with egg-shaped or broadly egg-shaped phyllodes with the narrower end towards the base, flowers arranged in 1 or 2 racemes in the axils of phyllodes, each with cylindrical to oblong, usually pale yellow flowers, and thin-walled, gently curved or coiled pods 30–80 mm (1.2–3.1 in) long.

<i>Epacris glacialis</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris glacialis, commonly known as reddish bog-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a prostrate to low-lying shrub with crowded, rhombus-shaped to broadly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and tube-shaped, white flowers in small clusters near the ends of the branches.

<i>Epacris calvertiana</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris calvertiana is a plant of the heath family, Ericaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an erect to diffuse shrub with elliptic to egg-shaped leaves with a sharp-pointed tip and with white, pink or red flowers arranged along the ends of leafy branchlets.

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

Dinosperma is a genus of plant containing the single species Dinosperma erythrococcum, commonly known as tingletongue, clubwood or nutmeg, and is endemic to north-eastern Australia. It is a tree usually with trifoliate leaves arranged in opposite pairs, the leaflets lance-shaped to oblong, and panicles of small white flowers, later bright orange to red, slightly fleshy follicles containing shiny, bluish black seeds.

Lasiopetalum × tepperi is a species of flowering plant in the family Malvaceae and is endemic to the south-east of South Australia. It is an erect, spreading or sprawling shrub with hairy stems, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves and pink flowers.

<i>Leucopogon concurvus</i> Species of plant

Leucopogon concurvus is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to a restricted part of South Australia. It is a slender shrub with egg-shaped leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged along the branches.

<i>Styphelia breviflora</i> Species of plant

Styphelia breviflora is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, spindly, glabrous shrub that typically grows to a height of up to about 1.5 m. It has oblong to lance-shaped or linear leaves 4–9 mm (0.16–0.35 in) long on a short petiole and with a small, rigid point on the tip. The flowers are borne singly or in pairs in leaf axils on a short peduncle with small bracts and bracteoles about half as long as the sepals. The sepals are about 2 mm (0.079 in) long and the petals white and about 4 mm (0.16 in) long, the petal lobes longer than the petal tube.

<i>Styphelia flavescens</i> Species of plant

Styphelia flavescens is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with oblong leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers that are densely bearded on the inside.

<i>Styphelia strongylophylla</i> Species of plant

Styphelia strongylophylla is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with crowded egg-shaped or round leaves and white, tube-shaped flower arranged singly or in pairs in leaf axils.

Brachyloma geissoloma is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with oblong or lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end toward the base, and red, pink or white, tube-shaped flowers.

Styphelia exserta is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect shrub with broadly egg-shaped leaves, and white, tube-shaped flowers.

<i>Styphelia hainesii</i> Species of plant

Styphelia hainesii is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south coast of Western Australia. It is a bushy shrub with egg-shaped leaves, the narrower end towards the base, and red, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly in leaf axils.

<i>Styphelia lissanthoides</i> Species of plant

Styphelia lissanthoides is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly or in pairs in leaf axils.

<i>Styphelia macrocalyx</i> Species of plant

Styphelia macrocalyx, commonly known as Swan berry, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with sharply pointed, narrowly lance-shaped leaves and white, tube-shaped flowers with tufts of hairs on the inside.

<i>Lissanthe pluriloculata</i> Species of shrub

Lissanthe pluriloculata is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a small, bushy shrub with sharply-pointed linear leaves and spikes or racemes of tube-shaped, white flowers.

<i>Lissanthe rubicunda</i> Species of shrub

Lissanthe rubicunda is a species of flowering plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a slender, erect to spreading shrub with few branches and sharply-pointed linear leaves and short spikes or racemes of red, tube-shaped flowers.

Styphelia pentapogona is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a diffuse shrub with many erect or ascending branchlets, crowded egg-shaped or lance-shaped leaves about 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) long, with a small point on the tip. The flowers are borne in lower leaf axils and are sessile with very small bracts and bracteoles less than 2 mm (0.079 in) long at the base. The petals are joined at the base forming a tube about 6.5 mm (0.26 in) long with bearded lobes.

Styphelia subulata is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rigid shrub with many branches, usually sharply-pointed, linear leaves and usually one or two white, tube-shaped flowers in leaf axils.

References

  1. ↑ "Woolsia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "Woolsia pungens". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 "Woollsia pungens". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  4. 1 2 Powell, Jocelyn M. "Woollsia pungens". Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1995). "Ecology of Sydney plant species Part 3: Dicotyledon families Cabombaceae to Eupomatiaceae". Cunninghamia. 4 (2): 390. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  6. ↑ Cavanilles, Antonio J. (1797). Icones et Descriptiones Plantarum. Madrid: Ex Regia Typographia. pp. 26–27. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  7. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1873). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 55. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  8. ↑ "Woollsia pungens". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  9. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1875). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 48. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  10. ↑ George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 287. ISBN   9780958034180.
  11. ↑ Quinn, Christopher J.; Crowden, Ronald K.; Brown, Elizabeth A.; Southam, Michael J.; Thornhill, Andrew H.; Crayn, Darren M. (2015). "A reappraisal of the generic concepts of Epacris, Rupicola and Budawangia (Ericaceae, Epacridoideae, Epacrideae) based on phylogenetic analysis of morphological and molecular data". Australian Systematic Botany. 28: 63. doi:10.1071/SB13009. S2CID   85849925.
  12. ↑ Johnson, Karen A.; Holland, Barbara R.; Heslewood, Margaret M.; Crayn, Darren M. (2012). "Supermatrices, supertrees and serendipitous scaffolding: Inferring a well-resolved, genus-level phylogeny of Styphelioideae (Ericaceae) despite missing data". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 62 (1): 146–158. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.09.011. PMID   21967784.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.