Patersonia babianoides explained

Patersonia babianoides is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a tufted, rhizome-forming herb with soft, linear to elliptic leaves and blue-violet tepals on a relatively short flowering scape.

Description

Patersonia babianoides is a tufted, rhizome-forming herb that typically grows to a height of and annually forms corm-like segments. Each segment usually only has a single linear to elliptic leaf long and wide on a petiole long, and covered with soft hairs long. The flowering scape is long with the sheath enclosing the flowers narrow triangular to lance-shaped, prominently veined, green, hairy and long. The outer tepals are blue-purple, long and wide, and the hypanthium tube is long and glabrous. Flowering mainly occurs from September to November.[1]

Taxonomy and naming

Patersonia babianoides was first described in 1873 by George Bentham in Flora Australiensis, from specimens collected by James Drummond in the Swan River Colony.[2] [3] The specific epithet (babianoides) means "Babiana-like".[4]

Distribution and habitat

This patersonia is common in the Darling Range, mostly between the Helena Valley and Collie where it grows in jarrah forest in the Jarrah Forest and Warren biogeographic regions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status

Patersonia babianoides is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Patersonia babianoides . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra . 8 November 2021.
  2. Web site: Patersonia babianoides. APNI. 8 November 2020.
  3. Book: Bentham . George . von Mueller . Ferdinand . Flora Australiensis . 1873 . Lovell Reeve & Co. . London . 408–409 . 8 November 2021.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 142 . 3rd.