Teucrium sessiliflorum explained

Teucrium sessiliflorum, commonly known as camel bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a tufted perennial herb with hairy, egg-shaped, lobed leaves and white or cream-coloured flowers.

Description

Teucrium sessiliflorum is a tufted perennial herb that typically grows to a height of and often forms suckers. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, egg-shaped in outline, long and wide and more or less deeply lobed with between two and five lobes in the upper half. The flowers are arranged singly or in pairs near the ends of the stems and are sessile at the base of a leaf-like bract. The sepals are long forming a tube in the lower half, and the petals are white or cream-coloured The lower middle petal lobe is long and there are four stamens. Flowering occurs from August to October.[1] [2] [3]

Taxonomy

Teucrium sessiliflorum was formally described in 1848 by George Bentham in de Candolle's Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis.[4] [5] The specific epithet (sessiliflorum) means "sessile-flowered".[6]

Distribution and habitat

Camel bush grows in mallee in sandy soil and occurs south of Hillston in New South Wales, in the far north-west of Victoria, south-eastern South Australia and south-western Western Australia.

Conservation status

Teucrium sessiliflorum is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Conn . Barry J. . Teucrium sessiliflorum . Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria . 14 March 2021.
  2. Web site: Conn . Barry J. . Teucrium sessiliflorum . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 14 March 2021.
  3. Web site: Teucrium sessiliflorum . State Herbarium of South Australia . 14 March 2021.
  4. Web site: Teucrium sessiliflorum. APNI. 14 March 2021.
  5. Book: Bentham . George . de Candolle . Augustin P. . Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis . 1848 . Paris . 580 . 14 March 2021.
  6. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 306 . 3rd.