Westringia brevifolia
Greater Shortleaf Westringia
Greater Shortleaf Westringia
Wikipedia links: Angiosperms > Eudicots > Asterids > Lamiales > Lamiaceae > Westringia brevifolia
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Overview:
Westringia brevifolia Benth., commonly referred to as Greater Shortleaf Westringia is member of the Lamiaceae family, subfamily, Prosterantheroideae
One of four Westringia species native Tasmania, Australia
This evergreen shrub somewhat resembles rosemary and is similar in appearance to another Tasmanian species W. rigida, but can be distinguished by its shorter calyx lobes
Common name: Greater Shortleaf Westringia
Conservation status: ...
Etymology:
Flowers
Conspicuous, insect attracting flowers appear late Winter to Summer with white to mauve petals and medium pink markings on the throat
Inflorescences are asymmetric and pedicellate, with solitary flowers emerging in the axils of new growth
The corolla consists of five fused petals that are twice as long as the calyx and covered in sparse hairs
The lobes are narrow with two slightly wider petals at the top of the flower forming the upper lip and three narrower ones forming the lower lip
Calyxes are persistent and narrow-triangular with a tapered end, 5-6mm in length and over half as long as the tube
Reproductive parts consist of four stamens, with slightly pink-brown anthers, and a white pistil
The upper two stamens are fertile, while the lower two stamens are infertile, or staminode.
Fruit:
The fruit consists of four, reticulate-rugose nutlets encased in a dry schizocarp, appearing after flowering, usually still encased by the calyx
Leaves:
The leaves are a medium green, either elliptic-lanceolate or oblong on shape
Softly pointed tip and shortly revolute margins
They are usually 6-8mm long by 1.2-3mm wide, emerging from white stems in whorls of four
With a silver-white abaxial surface and densely appressed hairs covering the leaves and stems
Stem & branches:
Roots:
Habit:
Habitat:
Distribution:
Additional notes:
Taxonomy
Written accounts of W. brevifolia first appeared in English botanist, George Bentham’s Labiatarum Genera et Species 5. in the year 1834
The name has changed slightly over the years, going by both Westringia rosmariniformis and Westringia raleighii, but has been recorded in the Australian Plant census as W. brevifolia since 2010
Subspecies
Westringia brevifolia var. raleighii, commonly known as Coast Westringia, is a dense shrub with limited distribution, growing slightly larger than the main form at 1.5m by 1.5m with white flowers during the summer months
Leaves are 6-8mm (0.24-0.31in) long and 3.5mm (0.14in) wide
Calyxes are roughly the same size as the standard variety at c. 6mm
Var. raleighii has a limited distribution and is listed as an endangered species under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995
Cultivation
A popular shrub in landscaping with many cultivated varieties such as ‘Lilac and Lace’, a varigated variety growing up to 1.5m high by 1.5m wide with pale leaves, green in the centre with cream coloured margins (hairs absent), and mauve flowers from Summer to Winter; and ‘Silver Lining’, which thrives in dry coastal areas, also growing c. 1.5m wide, however in contrast to other varieties, in grows in a rather prostrate form
Sources of information: