Conospermum caeruleum explained

Conospermum caeruleum, commonly known as blue brother, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with small, dense heads of blue, rarely pink flowers and usually grows in heavy soils subject to flooding.

Description

It grows as a prostrate or straggly shrub usually growing to a height of about NaNm (-2,147,483,648feet) and a spread of up to 2m (07feet). The leaves are clustered at the base of the stem, have a stalk NaNmm and a leaf blade that is thread-like to egg-shaped and NaNmm. The leaves have prominent veins and end abruptly in a sharp point. The flowers are arranged in dense clusters of up to 18 tube-like blue flowers, each about NaNmm long. Flowers appear between July and October and are followed by the fruit which is a nut about 2mm long and NaNmm wide.[1] [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Conospermum caeruleum was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London from a specimen collected near "King George's Sound, west coast of New Holland".[4] [5] The specific epithet (caeruleum) is a Latin word meaning "sky-blue".[6]

Six subspecies are recognised by the Australian Plant Census as at November 2020:

Distribution and habitat

Conospermum caeruleum occurs from Busselton to east of Albany in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographical regions of Western Australia growing on sand, sandy peat, stony clay, laterite or granite in areas that are wet in winter.[13]

Use in horticulture

Conospermum species, especially the Western Australian ones are difficult to cultivate.[14]

Conservation status

Conospermum caeruleum is classified as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Conospermum caeruleum . Bennett. E. M.. Flora of Australia Online (derived from Flora of Australia Volumes 16 (1995), 17A (2000) and 17B (1999)). 20 January 2015.
  2. Book: Corrick. Margaret G.. Fuhrer. Bruce A.. Wildflowers of southern Western Australia. 2009. Rosenberg Pub.. Kenthurst, N.S.W.. 9781877058844. 160. 3rd.
  3. Stone. Lynley M.. Floral biology and propagation of blue-flowered Conospermum species. PhD Thesis. 2003. 4. 1 January 2016.
  4. Web site: Conospermum caeruleum. APNI. 1 January 2016.
  5. Brown. Robert. On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London. 1810. 10. 1. 144–145. 1 January 2016.
  6. Book: Brown. Roland Wilbur. The Composition of Scientific Words. 1956. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.. 177.
  7. Web site: Conospermum caeruleum subsp. caeruleum. Australian Plant Census. 19 November 2020.
  8. Web site: Conospermum caeruleum subsp. contortum. Australian Plant Census. 19 November 2020.
  9. Web site: Conospermum caeruleum subsp. debile. Australian Plant Census. 19 November 2020.
  10. Web site: Conospermum caeruleum subsp. marginatum. Australian Plant Census. 19 November 2020.
  11. Web site: Conospermum caeruleum subsp. oblanceolatum. Australian Plant Census. 19 November 2020.
  12. Web site: Conospermum caeruleum subsp. spathulatum. Australian Plant Census. 19 November 2020.
  13. Book: Paczkowska. Grazyna. Chapman. Alex R.. The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. 2000. Wildflower Society of Western Australia. Perth. 0646402439. 469.
  14. Book: Wrigley. John W.. Fagg. Murray. Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping. 1983. Collins. Sydney. 0002165759. 200–201. 2nd.

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