Stenanthera conostephioides explained

Stenanthera conostephioides, commonly known as flame heath,[1] is a species of small shrub that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has linear to lance-shaped leaves, red, tubular flowers and green, oval fruit turning dark red.

Description

Stenanthera conostephioides is an erect or spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of . The leaves are thick, linear to lance-shaped, long and wide, with a pointed tip long. The flowers are red and occur singly, pendent and tube-like, more or less cylindrical and long. There are brownish bracts long and bracteoles long at the base of the flower, and the sepals are brownish . The petal lobes are densely hairy on the inside near their tips. The anthers project beyond the end of the petal tube and the style is long. The fruit is oval, about long and green tinged with maroon, later dark red. Flowering occurs from March to November.[2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Stenanthera conostephioides was first formally described in 1845 by Otto Wilhelm Sonder in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae from specimens collected by Theodor Siemssen near Port Adelaide in 1839.[4] [5] [6] The specific epithet (conostephioides) refers to the similarity of this species to a plant in the genus Conostephium.

Distribution and habitat

Flame heath grows in mallee scrub and open forest in sandy soil. It is a common species, occurring in western Victoria and the south east of South Australia.

Ecology

The flowers of this species form an important part of the diet of emus.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Stenanthera conostephioides . South Australian Seed Conservation Service . 5 March 2020.
  2. Web site: Messina . Andre . Stajsic . Val . Stenanthera conostephioides . Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria . 5 March 2020.
  3. Web site: Astroloma conostephioides . 5 March 2020 . Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet . State Herbarium of South Australia .
  4. Web site: Stenanthera conostephioides. APNI. 5 March 2020.
  5. Book: Johann G.C. Lehmann . Otto W. Sonder. Plantae Preissianae . 1845 . Sumptibus Meissneri . Hamburg . 296297 . 5 March 2020.
  6. Web site: Siemssen, G. Theodor (fl. 1838) . Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium . 5 March 2020.
  7. Quin . BR . 1996. Diet and Habitat of Emus Dromaius novaehollandiae in the Grampians Ranges, South-western Victoria. Emu . Birds Australia . 96 . 2 . 114–122. 10.1071/MU9960114 .