''Gonocarpus humilis'', commonly known as shade raspwort, is a small
herb
In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...
in the
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''
Gonocarpus'' of the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Haloragaceae. Shade raspwort is common along the eastern coast of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
, and grows in moist and shaded locations.
[ The leaves have a rough and scabrous surface, giving the plant the ]common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
raspwort.[
]
Description
''G. humilis'' is a variable monoecious
Monoecy (; adj. monoecious ) is a sexual system in seed plants where separate male and female cones or flowers are present on the same plant. It is a monomorphic sexual system alongside gynomonoecy, andromonoecy and trimonoecy.
Monoecy is conne ...
perennial
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
herb, reaching up to 50cm tall.prostrate
Prostrate may refer to:-
*Prostration, a position of submission in religion etc.
*Prone position, a face-down orientation of the body
*Prostrate shrub
A prostrate shrub is a woody plant, most of the branches of which lie upon or just above the ...
or semiprostrate, with stems up to 70cm.Flowers
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Angiospermae). The biological function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction, usually by providing a mechani ...
are yellow-green, with four hooded petals and stamens, each long. Leaves are opposite and decussate
Decussation is used in biological contexts to describe a crossing (due to the shape of the Roman numeral for ten, an uppercase 'X' (), ). In Latin anatomical terms, the form is used, e.g. .
Similarly, the anatomical term chiasma is named aft ...
with toothed margins long, wide and shortly petiolate with a scabrous surface. The fruit
In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants that is formed from the ovary after flowering.
Fruits are the means by which flowering plants (also known as angiosperms) disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particu ...
is a silver-grey to purplish nut, oval in shape and long. It has eight ribs with two to three hard protrusions between them.
Distribution
''G. humilis'' is widespread along the eastern coast of Australia, and occurs in Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, Victoria, South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
and Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
. It also occurs on Kangaroo Island.
Habitat
This species is commonly found in moist or boggy patches in shady locations. Its habitat is variable depending on location, but it is primarily found in coastal regions in most states, except for Tasmania and Victoria, where it occurs from the coast through to inland regions.
Distinguishing from similar species
Commonly mistaken for '' G. tetragynus'', it can be distinguished by inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed o ...
: the flowers are alternate and sparse, and bracts
In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...
are smaller and distinctly different from the leaves. Its habit is lax rather than erect. It has four stamens instead of eight and lacks white, appressed hairs. Site moisture can also be an indicator: ''G.'' ''tetragynus'' prefers dryer conditions.
Cultivation
This species is rarely cultivated.
References
External links
*https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2920955#
*https://www.utas.edu.au/dicotkey/dicotkey/Halorag/sGonocarpus_humilis.htm
*https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/8e417dd9-13e9-42ec-b1b2-e73c6f6b3042
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15600717
humilis