Conospermum densiflorum explained

Conospermum densiflorum, commonly known as crown smokebush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, much-branched shrub with thread-like leaves at the base of the plant, and spikes or corymbs of velvety, cream-coloured or blue, tube-shaped flowers.

Description

Conospermum densiflorum is an erect, much-branched shrub that typically grows to a height of up to . It has thread-like leaves long and wide at the base of the plant. The flowers are arranged in spikes or corymbs on a peduncle long. The bracteoles are lance-shaped, long and wide, sometimes with scattered, golden hairs. The perianth is cream-coloured or blue, forming a tube long. The upper lip is egg-shaped, long and wide, the lower lip joined for long with narrowly oblong lobes long. Flowering depends on subspecies, and the fruit is a nut long and wide and orange, with velvety hairs.^[1]

Taxonomy

Conospermum densiflorum was first formally described in 1839 by John Lindley in his A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.^{[2] [3]} The specific epithet (densiflorum) means 'dense-flowered'.^[4]

In 1995, Eleanor Marion Bennett described subsp. unicephalatum in the Flora of Australia, and the name, and that of the autonym are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

• Conospermum densiflorum Lindl. subsp. densiflorum^[5] (the autonym) has flowers arranged in a corymb of spikes and flowers from September to December or January.^{[6] [7]}
• Conospermum densiflorum subsp. unicephalatum E.M.Benn.^[8] has flowers arranged in a spike at the ends of branches and flowers from September to November.^[9]

Distribution and habitat

Conospermum densiflorum subsp. densiflorum is widely distributed between Perth and Jurien Bay in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains and Jarrah Forest bioregions of south-western Western Australia where it is found in low-lying areas in gravelly-clay soils, often over laterite. Subspecies unicephalatum occurs between Gingin and Moora in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions.

Conservation status

Subspecies densiflorum is list as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, but subsp. unicephalatum is listed as threatened.^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Bennett . Edith M. . Conospermum densiflorum . Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra . 21 July 2024.
2. Web site: Conospermum densiflorum. APNI. 21 July 2024.
3. Book: Lindley . John . A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony . 1839 . James Ridgway . London . xxxii . 21 July 2024.
4. Book: George . Alex . Sharr . Francis . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2021 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 180 . 4th.
5. Web site: Conospermum densiflorum subsp. densiflorum . Australian Plant Census . 21 July 2024.
6. Web site: Bennett . Edith M. . Conospermum densiflorum subsp. densiflorum . Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra . 21 July 2024.
7. Web site: Conospermum densiflorum Lindl. subsp. densiflorum . Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions . 22 July 2024.
8. Web site: Conospermum densiflorum subsp. unicephalatum . Australian Plant Census . 21 July 2024.
9. Web site: Bennett . Edith M. . Conospermum densiflorum subsp. unicephalatum . Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra . 21 July 2024.
10. Web site: Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna. Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. 21 July 2024.