''Billardiera fusiformis'' (Australian bluebell) is a species of plant in the family,
Pittosporaceae, which is
endemic to
Western Australia.
[
]
Description
''B. fusiformis'' is a sturdy climber, which flowers from November to February with blue, white or pink flowers. It is found in coastal areas, and disturbed areas.[
It is a long-lived climbing plant which is rarely bushy in habit. New stems are greenish in colour and densely hairy, while older stems are reddish brown. The long leaves are almost stalkless, have entire margins and are softly hairy. The nodding blue flowers occur in small clusters at the branch tips. These flowers have five petals and five yellowish stamens which are pressed to each other. The cylindrical fruit are narrowed towards each end, making the shape of a spindle (fusiform), and are dark green or purplish.][
''B. fusiformis'' can be distinguished from '' B. heterophylla'' by:]
its climbing or twining habit (it is rarely shrubby) and its relatively narrow adult leaves which are entire and almost stalkless. Its flower sepals are all about the same size and the anthers are noticeably longer than their filaments, and its somewhat spindle-shaped (i.e. fusiform) fruit;
whereas
'' B. heterophylla'' generally has a shrubby habit with some climbing stems, and relatively broad adult leaves which are finely toothed and borne on short stalks. Its flower sepals are of different sizes and the anthers are about the same length as their filaments. and the fruit are cylindrical in shape.[
]
Distribution and habitat
In Western Australia, it is found in the IBRA
The Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (IBRA) is a biogeographic regionalisation of Australia developed by the Australian government's Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Communities. It was devel ...
regions: Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest, Mallee, Swan Coastal Plain
The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geol ...
, Warren.[
]
Weed status
The species has been cultivated as a garden plant, and has now become a significant weed in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and the ACT.[ It invades woodlands, forests, shrublands, and grasslands, smothering ground flora and small shrubs, with large numbers of seedlings emerging in already infested areas, following fires.][
]
Taxonomy
''B. fusiformis'' was first described by Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière in 1805.[ Cayzer ''et al.'' (2004),][ being unable to locate the type specimen, designated the lectotype as being the illustration (tab. 90)][ given in "Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen".][
]
Etymology
The genus name, ''Billardiera
''Billardiera'' is a genus of small vines and shrubs in the family, ''Pittosporaceae'', which is endemic to Australia. The genus was first formally described in 1793 by botanist James Edward Smith who named it in honour of Jacques Labillardière ...
'', honours the French botanist Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière who was the first to describe so many Australian plants.[
The ]specific epithet
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
is derived from the Latin: ''fusiformis, -e'': shaped like a spindle, that is, swollen in the middle and tapering at each end, and refers to the shape of the fruits.[Eckel, P.M. (2010-2018) ]
Gallery
File:Billardiera fusiformis - Flickr - Kevin Thiele (1).jpg
File:Billardiera fusiformis - Flickr - Kevin Thiele.jpg
File:Billardiera fusiformis191434.jpg
File:Billardiera fusiformis flowers.jpg
File:Billardiera fusiformis fruit.jpg
References
External links
* Bennett, E.M. 1972.
* Bennett, E.M. 1978.
*
{{taxonbar, from=Q15589326
fusiformis
Plants described in 1805
Taxa named by Jacques Labillardière
Endemic flora of Southwest Australia