Darwinia fascicularis

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Darwinia fascicularis
Darwinia fascicularis Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.JPG
Darwinia fascicularis at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Darwinia
Species:
D. fascicularis
Binomial name
Darwinia fascicularis
Darwinia fascicularisDistMap11.png
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms

Cryptostemon ericaeus F.Muell. & Miq.

Darwinia fascicularis is shrub in the myrtle family and is endemic to areas near Sydney. A small shrub with aromatic foliage and white flowers, turning red as they mature. Nectar feeding birds are attracted to its flowers as a food source.

Contents

Description

Darwinia fascicularis is a pleasantly scented small plant up to 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) tall. The light green needle-like leaves are small, smooth, almost cylindrical and 8–16 mm (0.31–0.63 in) long. The leaves are crowded, arranged opposite or whorled on spreading branches. The flowers are white on a peduncle 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The flowers resemble a pin-cushion appearing in clusters of 4-20 flowers at the end of branches turning red as they age. The prominent styles are straight or curved, 12–18 mm (0.47–0.71 in) long and either white or red. The bracts are leaf-like or triangular, dry, translucent and about 2–14 mm (0.079–0.55 in) long. The smaller bracts may be oblong or triangular shaped, 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long and falling off early. The tubular flowers are 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 1–1.5 mm (0.039–0.059 in) in diameter with rounded ribbing. The sepals are usually toothed and triangular and about half the length of the petals. Flowering occurs from June to September. [3] [4] [5] [6]

Taxonomy and naming

Darwinia fascicularis was first formally described by Edward Rudge in 1816 and published in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. [7] The specific epithet (fascicularis) means "resembling a small bundle". [8] :197 [9]

Two subspecies are recognised by the Australian Plant Census.

Distribution and habitat

Darwinia fascicularis grows from as far north as Gosford in the Central Coast to Bulli near Wollongong. The habitat is poor sandy soils, in dry eucalyptus forest or heathlands in high rainfall areas. [11]

Uses in horticulture

Darwinia fascicularis is a hardy species, for an open sunny situation in well-drained soil. Several native birds are attracted to this species of Darwinia as a source of nectar they include the New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), tawny-crowned honeyeater (Gliciphila melanops) and eastern spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris). [6] This genus believed to be predominantly pollinated by birds. [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>Darwinia</i> (plant) Genus of flowering plants

Darwinia, sometimes commonly known as mountain bells or simply bells, is a genus of about 70 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia. The majority are native to southern Western Australia, but a few species occur in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. The genus was named in honour of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin by Edward Rudge in 1816. Most darwinias grow to a height of between 0.2 and 3 m, and many are prostrate shrubs. Most have small, simple leaves and the flowers are often grouped together, each flower with five red, white or greenish petals and ten stamens. In many species, the flowers are surrounded by large, colourful bracts, giving rise to their common names.

<i>Banksia ericifolia</i> Woody shrub native to Australia

Banksia ericifolia, the heath-leaved banksia, or lantern banksia, is a species of woody shrub of the family Proteaceae native to Australia. It grows in two separate regions of Central and Northern New South Wales east of the Great Dividing Range. Well known for its orange or red autumn inflorescences, which contrast with its green fine-leaved heath-like foliage, it is a medium to large shrub that can reach 6 m (20 ft) high and wide, though is usually half that size. In exposed heathlands and coastal areas, it is more often 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft).

Banksia paludosa Shrub in the family Proteaceae native to New South Wales, Australia

Banksia paludosa, commonly known as the marsh or swamp banksia, is a species of shrub in the plant genus Banksia. It is native to New South Wales, Australia, where it is found between Sydney and Batemans Bay, with an isolated population further south around Eden. There are two recognised subspecies, the nominate of which is a spreading shrub to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in height, and subsp. astrolux is a taller shrub to 5 m (16 ft) high found only in Nattai National Park.

<i>Grevillea mucronulata</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to New South Wales, Australia

Grevillea mucronulata, also known as green spider flower or green grevillea, is a species of flowering plant of the family Proteaceae andt is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. Described by Robert Brown in 1810, it is found in open sclerophyll forest or woodland around the Sydney region and New South Wales south coast. It grows as a small bush to 3 m (9.8 ft) high and wide, with variable foliage and greenish flowers that appear over the cooler months from May to October. The flowers are attractive to birds.

<i>Grevillea curviloba</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Grevillea curviloba is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate to erect shrub with short branchlets, divided leaves with linear to narrowly lance-shaped lobes with the narrower end towards the base, and white to cream-coloured flowers.

<i>Hakea teretifolia</i> Species of plant

Hakea teretifolia, commonly known as the dagger hakea, is a species of woody shrub of the family Proteaceae and is common on heathlands in coastal eastern Australia from northern New South Wales through to Victoria and Tasmania. A very prickly shrub, it is rarely cultivated but easy to grow.

<i>Grevillea linearifolia</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to New South Wales, Australia

Grevillea linearifolia, commonly known as linear-leaf grevillea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an open, erect shrub with linear to narrowly elliptic leaves, and clusters of white flowers.

<i>Grevillea manglesii</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Grevillea manglesii is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to an area around Perth in Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub with divided leaves, with triangular or linear lobes, and clusters of cream-coloured or white flowers.

<i>Lambertia formosa</i> Shrub of the family Proteaceae, endemic to New South Wales, Australia

Lambertia formosa, commonly known as mountain devil, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae, endemic to New South Wales, Australia. First described in 1798 by English botanist James Edward Smith, it is the type species of the small genus Lambertia. It is generally found in heathland or open forest, growing in sandstone-based soils. It grows as a multistemmed shrub to around 2 m (7 ft) with a woody base known as a lignotuber, from which it regrows after bushfire. It has stiff narrow leaves, and the pink to red flowerheads, made up of seven individual tubular flowers, generally appear in spring and summer. It gains its common name from the horned woody follicles, which were used to make small devil-figures.

<i>Darwinia glaucophylla</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia glaucophylla is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae which grows as a prostrate shrub, sometimes forming extensive mats. It has bluish green leaves and white flowers in small groups which fade to reddish pink as they age. It is only known from about fifteen sites in the Gosford area and is listed as "threatened" in New South Wales legislation.

<i>Baeckea brevifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Baeckea brevifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales. It is a shrub with narrow egg-shaped to oblong leaves and white to pink flowers with nine to fifteen stamens.

<i>Darwinia grandiflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia grandiflora is a flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae. It is a dense, mat forming, prostrate shrub with clusters of tubular red flowers and is endemic to New South Wales.

<i>Lambertia orbifolia</i> Species of plant endemic to the south-west of Western Australia

Lambertia orbifolia, commonly known as the roundleaf honeysuckle, is a shrub or small tree that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has more or less circular leaves and groups of between four and six orange-red flowers.

<i>Darwinia oxylepis</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia oxylepis, commonly known as Gillham's bell, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It grows as a dense, upright shrub 1.0–1.5 m (3.3–4.9 ft) high, and produces large numbers of red inflorescences prominently displayed on the ends of the branchlets in spring. It is one of a group of Darwinias including D. leiostyla, D. macrostegia, D. meeboldii, D. collina and D. squarrosa collectively known as mountain bells. The species is found in only a few seasonally moist gullies near the lower slopes of the Stirling Range National Park and nearby Porongurup National Park and is therefore classified as endangered.

<i>Pultenaea stipularis</i> Species of legume

Pultenaea stipularis, commonly known as handsome bush-pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. It is an erect shrub with glabrous stems, linear to narrow elliptic leaves, and yellow to orange flowers, sometimes with red markings.

<i>Darwinia apiculata</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia apiculata, commonly known as the scarp darwinia, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in Western Australia. It is a rounded, densely branched, small shrub with thin red branches and scattered small leaves. The flowers are arranged in small groups on the ends of the branches, their most obvious feature being long, red, pointed bracts surrounding each flower and a longer red style with scattered hairs near its tip.

<i>Darwinia chapmaniana</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia chapmaniana, commonly known as Chapman's bell or Eganu bell, is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a low, rounded, spreading shrub with greyish, hairy leaves and flowers in heads of about 14 small, tubular flowers. The heads are surrounded by long, reddish-yellow, hairy bracts.

<i>Darwinia diminuta</i> Species of flowering plant

Darwinia diminuta is a plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is endemic to New South Wales. A small spreading shrub with white to pinkish tubular flowers arranged in pairs, with a restricted distribution mostly in the Sydney region.

Hibbertia echiifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Dilleniaceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is a variable shrub with elliptic to lance-shaped or oblong leaves and yellow flowers arranged singly in leaf axils, with twenty-nine to forty-five stamens arranged around the three carpels.

<i>Daviesia intricata</i> Species of flowering plant

Daviesia intricata is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a glabrous shrub with densely tangled branches, sharply-pointed, needle-shaped or flattened phyllodes and apricot-yellow and dark red flowers.

References

  1. "Darwinia fascicularis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  2. Rudge, E. (1816) A Description of several new Species of Plants from New Holland. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 11: 299, t. 22.
  3. "Darwinia fascicularis". Friends of Lance Cove National Park Inc. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  4. Grieg, Denise (1999). Field Guide to Australian Wildflowers. Avery Chase-New Holland. ISBN   1-86436-334-7.
  5. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (2001). Australian Native Plants. Louise Eggerton-Reed New Holland. ISBN   1-876334-30-4.
  6. 1 2 Adams, George (2011). Birdscaping Australian Gardens. D & G Publishing.
  7. 1 2 3 "Darwinia fascicularis". APNI. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  8. 1 2 Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. ISBN   9780958034180.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Darwinia fascicularis". ANBG. Australian Government. Retrieved 9 April 2019.
  10. "Darwinia fascicularis subsp. oligantha". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  11. 1 2 3 "Darwinia fascicularis". NSW PlantNet Flora Online. National Herbarium of NSW. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  12. "Darwinia fascicularis subsp. fascicularis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  13. Hugh, A.Ford; Paton, David C.; Forde, Neville (2012). "Darwinia species". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 17:4. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.1979.10432566 .