Pomaderris Explained

Pomaderris is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the family Rhamnaceae, the species native to Australia and/or New Zealand. Plants in the genus Pomaderris are usually shrubs, sometimes small trees with simple leaves arranged alternately along the branches and bisexual, woolly-hairy flowers arranged in racemes or panicles. The flowers are usually yellow and often lack petals.

Description

Plants in the genus Pomaderris are shrubs, sometimes small trees, the young stems, lower surfaces of the leaves and flower parts are covered with woolly, star-shaped and simple hairs. The leaves are arranged alternately along the branches and are simple, with brown stipules at the base of the petiole but that are usually shed as the leaf matures. The flowers are arranged in small cymes, the groups arranged in racemes or panicles, and are usually yellow. The flowers have five sepals but the petals are usually absent or fall off as the flower opens, and there are five stamens in each flower. The fruit is a capsule that eventually splits into three valves.[1] [2] [3]

Taxonomy

The genus Pomaderris was first formally described in 1805 by Jacques Labillardière in his Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen.[4] The genus name means "a covering of leather or skin" referring to the valves of the fruit.

Distribution

Species of Pomaderris occur in all Australian states and the Australian Capital Territory, but not the Northern Territory and in both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. Sixty-five of the species are native to Australia and the other five are from New Zealand. There is some overlap. A distinctive feature of the leaves, branches, and twigs of this genus, is that they are hairy.

Ecology

Pomaderris species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Aenetus ligniveren.

Use in horticulture

A few of species in this genus are known to horticulture; the most commonly cultivated species is P. aspera, the hazel pomaderris.

Species list

The following is a list of Pomaderris species accepted by Plants of the World Online as at December 2021,[5] other than P. ferruginea which is accepted by the Australian Plant Census:[6]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Harden . Gwen . Pomaderris . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 20 December 2021.
  2. Web site: Walsh . Neville G. . Pomaderris . Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria . 22 December 2021.
  3. Web site: Pomaderris . State Herbarium of South Australia . 20 December 2021.
  4. Web site: Pomaderris. APNI. 20 December 2021.
  5. Web site: Pomaderris . Plants of the World Online . 20 December 2021.
  6. Web site: Pomaderris ferruginea. Australian Plant Census. 20 December 2021.

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