Tetratheca thymifolia

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Angiosperms > Eudicots > Rosids  > Fabids >  Oxalidales > Elaeocarpaceae > Tetratheca thymifolia

Other links:     

Common name:         Black-eyed Susan

Conservation status: ...

Etymology:   

• The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek tetra "four", and theke "sac, box" and relates to the four-celled anthers

Flowers

• Flowering occurs mainly from September to November but individual flowers can be seen at any time of year

• The 2.5 cm diameter flowers have a strong fragrance on hot days

Fruit:                            

Leaves:         

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

• A tough-stemmed shrub up to a metre high

Habitat:   

• Heathland or eucalyptus woodland on sandy soils

Distribution:                  

•  Southeastern Queensland, through NSW and into East Gippsland in eastern Victoria

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy

  • It was first described by English botanist James Edward Smith in 1804. Its species name is derived from the Latin word folium "leaf" and thymus like the plant of that name

  • Horticulture

    • Introduced to horticulture in 1824 in England, Tetratheca thymifolia has been cultivated to some degree since

    • Several forms have been selected for horticulture, including T. 'Bicentennial Belle', which originates from a naturally occurring population near Bega, NSW

    • This form reaches 0.7 m tall by up to 0.9 m wide, and is freely suckering

    • It was registered with the Australian Cultivar Registration Authority in 1985 by Austraflora Nursery in Montrose, Victoria

    • It flowers all year, with peaks in spring and autumn., and has larger flowers than the species

    • Overall, Tetratheca thymifolia does best in well-drained acidic soils in a sunny or semi-shaded aspect, and tolerates light frosts

    • It is grown in container gardens or rockeries

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetratheca_thymifolia (2024)