Lasiopetalum

''Lasiopetalum'', commonly known as velvet bushes, is a genus of about forty-five species of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae, all endemic to Australia.

Description

Most species of ''Lasiopetalum'' are spreading or prostrate, many-branched shrubs. Commonly known as velvet bushes, they derive their common name from the pubescent (finely-furred) nature of the stems, leaves and flowers. Their leaves are generally arranged alternately on the stems. The flowerheads are either axillary or terminal. The flowers are small, the five-lobed calyces are hairy and the petals tiny.

The genus is allied to the genera ''Guichenotia'' and ''Thomasia''. The greatest diversity of species is in Western Australia, where 24 species are found, of which 8 are endemic to the region.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Lasiopetalum'' was first formally described in 1798 by James Edward Smith in ''Transactions of the Linnean Society of London''. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek word ''lasios'' "hairy", and the Botanical Greek ''petalon'' "petal", and refers to the hairy calyx. ''Lasiopetalum'' was previously classified in the family Sterculiaceae, however that family has been sunk into an expanded Malvaceae. Within the family, it gives its name to its tribe Lasiopetaleae, which contains about ten genera, located mostly in Australia. It is closely related to ''Guichenotia'', although the exact relationship and genus delineation is unclear pending further research.

Distribution and habitat

Species occur in lowland sclerophyll forest and heathland habitats and are endemic to Australia.

Use in horticulture

The genus is rarely cultivated, although many species have flushes of attractive reddish hairy new growth, and several were cultivated in England in the 19th century.

Species list

The following is a list of ''Lasiopetalum'' species, accepted by the Australian Plant Census as at December 2020:

*'' Lasiopetalum adenotrichum'' R.A.Meissn. & Rathbone (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum angustifolium'' W.Fitzg. - narrow-leaved lasiopetalum (W.A.)
*''Lasiopetalum baueri'' Steetz - slender velvet bush (N.S.W., Vic., S.A., Tas.)
*''Lasiopetalum behrii'' F.Muell. - pink velvet-bush (N.S.W., Vic., S.A., W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum bracteatum'' (Endl.) Benth. - Helena velvet bush (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum cardiophyllum'' Paust (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum cenobium'' K.A.Sheph. & C.F.Wilkins (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum compactum'' Paust (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum cordifolium'' Endl. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum dielsii'' E.Pritz. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum discolor'' Hook. – coast velvet bush (W.A., S.A., Tas.)
*'' Lasiopetalum drummondii'' Benth. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum ferraricollinum'' E.M.Benn. & K.A.Sheph. (W.A.)
*''Lasiopetalum ferrugineum'' Sm. – rusty velvet-bush (Qld., N.S.W., Vic.)
*''Lasiopetalum fitzgibbonii'' F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum floribundum'' Benth. - free-flowering lasiopetalum (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum glabratum'' Paust (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum glutinosum'' (Lindl.) F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum indutum'' Steud. (W.A.)
*''Lasiopetalum joyceae'' Blakely (N.S.W.)
*'' Lasiopetalum laxiflorum'' (Benth.) F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum lineare'' Paust (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum longistamineum'' Maiden & Betche (N.S.W.)
*''Lasiopetalum macrophyllum'' Graham - shrubby velvet bush (N.S.W., Vic., Tas.)
*''Lasiopetalum maxwellii'' F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum membranaceum'' (Steud.) Benth. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum micranthum'' Hook.f. – Tasmanian velvetbush (Tas.)
*'' Lasiopetalum microcardium'' E.Pritz. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum molle'' Benth. - soft-leaved lasiopetalum (W.A.)
*''Lasiopetalum monticola'' Paust (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum ogilvieanum'' F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum oldfieldii'' F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum oppositifolium'' F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum parviflorum'' Rudge (N.S.W., Qld.)
*'' Lasiopetalum parvuliflorum'' F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum pterocarpum'' E.M.Benn. & K.A.Sheph. – wing-fruited lasiopetalum (W.A.)
*''Lasiopetalum quinquenervium'' Turcz. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum rosmarinifolium'' (Turcz.) Benth. (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum rotundifolium'' Paust (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum rufum'' R.Br. ex Benth. (N.S.W.)
*'' Lasiopetalum schulzenii'' (F.Muell.) Benth. – drooping velvet-bush (S.A., Vic.)
* ''Lasiopetalum'' x ''tepperi'' F.Muell. (S.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum trichanthera'' K.A.Sheph. & C.F.Wilkins (W.A.)
*'' Lasiopetalum venustum'' K.A.Sheph. & C.F.Wilkins (W.A.)

References

External links

Malvaceae info: ''Lasiopetalum'' gallery

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2566537

Malvales of Australia
Malvaceae genera
Taxa named by James Edward Smith