Eriostemon australasius
| Wax Flower | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eriostemon australasius at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Eriostemon |
| Species: | E. australasius |
| Binomial name | |
| Eriostemon australasius Pers. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Eriostemon australasius is a common shrub of the Rutaceae (citrus) family found in New South Wales and Queensland on the along the east coast of Australia. It is one of the more spectacular wildflowers in Sydney in late winter and early spring.[1]
The Wax Flower grows in heathland and dry eucalyptus woodlands to 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) high, and has greyish-green leaves. It was first described by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon in his Synopsis Plantarum in 1805.[2] It is the type species of the genus Eriostemon, and so was preserved in that genus when it was found to be not so closely related to most of the other species, all of which were transferred to the new genus Philotheca.[3] E. lanceolatus was a binomial name it was known by which was found to be invalid. Its common name is the pink wax flower, the term derived from the thick waxy petals.[4]
Eriostemon australasius grows as a small upright shrub with bushy foliage to 1 or 2 metres (3.3 or 6.6 ft) high. The smaller stems come off larger stems at an angle, and the narrow elliptic or oblong leaves measure 2–8 cm (0.8-3.2) long, and 0.8–1.4 cm (0.31–0.55 in) wide. They are covered in very fine hairs when young and become smooth with maturity. The flowers are pink and have five petals.[5]
The range is from Lake Conjola on the New South Wales south coast northwards along the coast to Fraser Island in Queensland, in heathland or dry sclerophyll forest.[4][5]
Eriostemon australasius was first cultivated in England in 1824. It adapts fairly readily to the garden situation, as long as it has good drainage, in dappled shade to full sun. The roots benefit from some shelter. It can be propagated by cuttings.[4]
References
- ↑ Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, ISBN 978-0-7318-1211-0 page 118
- ↑ "Eriostemon australasius Pers.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ↑ Wilson, P. G. (1998). A taxonomic review of the genera Eriostemon and Philotheca (Boronieae: Rutaceae). Nuytsia 12: 239-265.
- 1 2 3 Elliot Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1984). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation:Volume 3 - Ce-Er. Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. pp. 470–72. ISBN 0-85091-167-2.
- 1 2 New South Wales Flora Online: Eriostemon australasius by P.H. Weston, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.