Conospermum eatoniae explained

Conospermum eatoniae, commonly known as blue lace,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves only present on young plants, and panicles of glabrous blue, tube-shaped flowers with pale green bracteoles.

Description

Conospermum eatoniae is a spreading, much-branched shrub that typically grows up to tall and wide. Egg-shaped to oblong leaves are only present at the base of young plants. The flowers are arranged in panicles with secondary dichotomous branching, ending in a head of 2 to 10 flowers. The bracteoles are more or less round, long, wide, and pale green. The perianth is blue, forming a tube long. The upper lip is egg-shaped, long and wide, the lower lip joined for long with lobes long. Flowering occurs from August to October, and the fruit is a nut about long and wide and with velvety orange hairs.[2]

Taxonomy

Conospermum eatoniae was first formally described in 1904 by the botanist Ernst Georg Pritzel in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie, from specimens collected by Alice Eaton near Tammin.[3] [4] The specific epithet (eatoniae) honours the collector of the type specimen.[5]

Distribution and habitat

Blue lace grows in sandy soils between Coorow, Goomalling and Tammin in the Avon Wheatbelt and Geraldton Sandplains bioregions in the south-west of Western Australia.[2]

Conservation status

This species of Conospermum is listed as Priority Three by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that it is poorly known, and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Smokebush for cutflower production. 1 December 2018. 9 December 2016. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
  2. Web site: Bennett . Edith M. . Conospermum eatiniae . Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra . 25 July 2024.
  3. Web site: Conospermum eatoniae. APNI. 25 July 2024.
  4. Pritzel . Ernst Georg . Engler . Adolf . Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae occidentalis. Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Pflanzen Westaustraliens, ihrer Verbreitung und ihrer Lebensverhaltnisse. . Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie . 1904 . 35 . 1 . 141–142 . 25 July 2024.
  5. Book: George . Alex . Sharr . Francis . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2021 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 189 . 4th.
  6. Web site: Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna. Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. 8 May 2024.