Lasiopetalum
Velvet Bush
Velvet Bush
Common name: Velvet Bush
They derive their common name from the pubescent (finely-furred) nature of the stems, leaves and flowers
Conservation status: ...
Etymology:
The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek word lasios "hairy", and the Botanical Greek petalon "petal", and refers to the hairy calyx
Flowers:
The flowerheads are either axillary or terminal
The flowers are small, the five-lobed calyces are hairy and the petals tiny
Fruit:
Leaves:
Their leaves are generally arranged alternately on the stems
Stem & branches:
Roots:
Habit:
Most species of Lasiopetalum are spreading or prostrate, many-branched shrubs
Habitat:
Species occur in lowland sclerophyll forest and heathland habitats
Distribution:
All endemic to Australia
The greatest diversity of species is in Western Australia, where 24 species are found, of which 8 are endemic to the region
Species:
World: ~ 45
Australia: ~ 45
Additional notes:
Taxonomy
Lasiopetalum, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae
The genus is allied to the genera Guichenotia and Thomasia
The genus Lasiopetalum was first formally described in 1798 by James Edward Smith in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London
It was previously classified in the family Sterculiaceae, however that family has been sunk into an expanded Malvaceae
Within the family, it gives its name to its tribe Lasiopetaleae, which contains about ten genera, located mostly in Australia
It is closely related to Guichenotia, although the exact relationship and genus delineation is unclear pending further research
Use in horticulture
The genus is rarely cultivated, although many species have flushes of attractive reddish hairy new growth, and several were cultivated in England in the 19th century
Species list
The following is a list of species, accepted by the Australian Plant Census as at December 2020:
Lasiopetalum adenotrichum R.A.Meissn. & Rathbone (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum angustifolium W.Fitzg. - narrow-leaved lasiopetalum (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum baueri Steetz - slender velvet bush (N.S.W., Vic., S.A., Tas.)
Lasiopetalum behrii F.Muell. - pink velvet-bush (N.S.W., Vic., S.A., W.A.)
Lasiopetalum bracteatum (Endl.) Benth. - Helena velvet bush (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum cardiophyllum Paust (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum cenobium K.A.Sheph. & C.F.Wilkins (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum compactum Paust (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum cordifolium Endl. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum dielsii E.Pritz. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum discolor Hook. – coast velvet bush (W.A., S.A., Tas.)
Lasiopetalum drummondii Benth. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum ferraricollinum E.M.Benn. & K.A.Sheph. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum ferrugineum Sm. – rusty velvet-bush (Qld., N.S.W., Vic.)
Lasiopetalum fitzgibbonii F.Muell. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum floribundum Benth. - free-flowering lasiopetalum (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum glabratum Paust (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum glutinosum (Lindl.) F.Muell. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum indutum Steud. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum joyceae Blakely (N.S.W.)
Lasiopetalum laxiflorum (Benth.) F.Muell. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum lineare Paust (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum longistamineum Maiden & Betche (N.S.W.)
Lasiopetalum macrophyllum Graham - shrubby velvet bush (N.S.W., Vic., Tas.)
Lasiopetalum maxwellii F.Muell. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum membranaceum (Steud.) Benth. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum micranthum Hook.f. – Tasmanian velvetbush (Tas.)
Lasiopetalum microcardium E.Pritz. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum molle Benth. - soft-leaved lasiopetalum (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum monticola Paust (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum ogilvieanum F.Muell. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum oldfieldii F.Muell. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum oppositifolium F.Muell. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum parviflorum Rudge (N.S.W., Qld.)
Lasiopetalum parvuliflorum F.Muell. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum pterocarpum E.M.Benn. & K.A.Sheph. – wing-fruited lasiopetalum (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum quinquenervium Turcz. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum rosmarinifolium (Turcz.) Benth. (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum rotundifolium Paust (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum rufum R.Br. ex Benth. (N.S.W.)
Lasiopetalum schulzenii (F.Muell.) Benth. – drooping velvet-bush (S.A., Vic.)
Lasiopetalum x tepperi F.Muell. (S.A.)
Lasiopetalum trichanthera K.A.Sheph. & C.F.Wilkins (W.A.)
Lasiopetalum venustum K.A.Sheph. & C.F.Wilkins (W.A.)
Sources of information: