Westringia dampieri explained

Westringia dampieri, commonly known as shore westringia,[1] is a flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae, it grows in South Australia and Western Australia. It is a small, dense shrub with white, mauve, cream or purple flowers.

Description

Westringia dampieri is a small shrub with more or less circular stems in cross section. The leaves are simple, arranged in whorls, long and wide with simple surface hairs. The corolla may be cream, white, purple or mauve, markings in the throat, long, simple hairs and on a pedicel long. The calyx is moderately thick, has five lobes long and simple hairs. Flowering occurs in late summer, winter and early to mid spring.[2]

Taxonomy naming

Westringia dampieri was first formally described in 1810 by Scottish botanist Robert Brown based on specimens collected at King George Sound and the description was published in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen.[3] The name has been misapplied to Westringia eremicola and Westringia senifolia. The specific epithet (dampieri) was named in honour of William Dampier.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Shore westringia grows mostly on sandy soils in coastal locations or nearby on the west coast and south coast of Western Australia.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Archer . William . Westringia dampieri - Shore westringia . Esperance Wildflowers . 21 September 2021.
  2. Web site: Hollister . C . Thiele . K.R. . Westringia dampieri . Florabase-the Western Australia Flora . Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions . 22 September 2021.
  3. Book: Brown, R. . 1810. Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum quas annis 1802-1805. 501. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6157592. W. dampieri.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 178 . 3rd.