Isopogon fletcheri explained

Isopogon fletcheri, commonly known as Fletcher's drumsticks,^[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to a restricted area in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. It is a bushy shrub with narrow egg-shaped to narrow lance-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and top-shaped to egg-shaped heads of yellowish or creamy green flowers.

Description

Isopogon fletcheri is an erect, bushy shrub that typically grows to a height of and has glabrous reddish brown branchlets. Its leaves are narrow egg-shaped to narrow lance-shaped or linear with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide and more or less sessile. The flowers are arranged in top-shaped to egg-shaped, sessile heads long in diameter with overlapping egg-shaped involucral bracts at the base. The flowers are about long, yellowish to creamy green and glabrous. Flowering occurs from September to November and the fruit is a hairy oval nut long, fused with others in a more or less spherical cone up to in diameter.^{[2] [3]} It is the only species on the east coast to have an entire leaf margin. Other species in this genus on the east coast have divided or textured leaves.

Taxonomy and naming

Isopogon fletcheri was first formally described in 1894 by Ferdinand von Mueller in Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales Series from specimens collected by Joseph James Fletcher from Blackheath, overlooking the Grose Valley.^{[4] [5]}

Distribution and habitat

Fletcher's drumsticks grows in forest within the spray zone of waterfalls near sandstone cliffs in a few places near Blackheath.^[6] All of its range is contained in the Blue Mountains National Park. It is commonly found in sandstone and gravel soil.

Conservation status

This isopogon is classified as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the New South Wales Government Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. The main threats to the species include its small population size, restricted distribution, disease caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, disturbance due to walkers and rock climbers, and weed invasion.

Use in horticulture

This species is hardy when grown in well-drained soil, using low-phosphorus fertilisers.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Approved Conservation Advice for Isopogon fletcheri (Fletcher's drumsticks) . Australian Government Department of the Environment . 24 November 2020.
2. Web site: Foreman . David B. . Isopogon fletcheri . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 24 November 2020.
3. Web site: Harden . Gwen J. . Isopgon fletcher . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 24 November 2020.
4. Web site: Isopogon fletcheri. APNI. 24 November 2020.
5. von Mueller . Ferdinand . Description of a new Isopogon of New South Wales. . Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales . 1894 . 9 . 2. 151–152 . 24 November 2020.
6. Web site: Fletcher's Drumsticks - profile . New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage . 24 November 2020.
7. Web site: Feilen . Peter . Isopogon fletcheri . Australian National Botanic Gardens . 24 November 2020.