''Mirbelia speciosa'' is a species of flowering plant in the family
and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with narrowly linear leaves arranged in
whorls
A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs).
Whorls in nature
File:Photograph and axial plane floral d ...
of three, and bluish-purple flowers usually arranged singly in leaf axils.
Description
''Mirbelia speciosa'' is an erect shrub that typically grows to a height of up to about and has angular stems. Its leaves are arranged in
whorls
A whorl ( or ) is an individual circle, oval, volution or equivalent in a whorled pattern, which consists of a spiral or multiple concentric objects (including circles, ovals and arcs).
Whorls in nature
File:Photograph and axial plane floral d ...
of three, and are narrowly linear, long, long and sharply pointed, the edges rolled under. The flowers are mostly arranged in leaf axils, the
sepals are long, silky-hairy and joined at the base to form a tube with tapering teeth about as long as the tube. The petals are long and bluish-purple, often with a yellowish mark near the base of the
standard petal. Flowering occurs in July and August and the fruit is an oval
pod
Pod or POD may refer to:
Biology
* Pod (fruit), a type of fruit of a flowering plant
* Husk or pod of a legume
* Pod of whales or other marine mammals
* "-pod", a suffix meaning "foot" used in taxonomy
Electronics and computing
* Proper ort ...
long.
[Alan Fairley – Wildflowers of Sydney & adjoining areas page 147][Les Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, page 83]
Taxonomy
''Mirbelia speciosa'' was first formally described in 1825 by
Augustin Pyramus de Candolle Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in his ''
Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis'' from an unpublished description by
Franz Sieber.
The specific epithet “speciosa” means "showy", referring to flowers.
In 1977,
Leslie Pedley reduced ''M. ringrosei''
F.M.Bailey
Frederick Manson Bailey (8 March 1827 – 25 June 1915) was a botanist active in Australia, who made valuable contributions to the characterisation of the flora of Queensland. He was known by his middle name, Manson.
Early life
Bailey was b ...
to ''M. speciosa'' subsp. ''ringrosei'' in the journal ''
Austrobaileya'',
and the name and that of the
autonym (subsp. ''speciosa''), are accepted by the
Australian Plant Census:
* ''Mirbelia speciosa'' subsp. ''ringrosei''
(F.M.Bailey) Pedley has
bracteoles longer than the sepal tube, and leaves mostly long.
* ''Mirbelia speciosa''
(F.M.Bailey) Pedley subsp. ''speciosa''
has bracteoles shorter than the sepal tube, and leaves mostly long.
Distribution and habitat
This mirbelia grows in heath, woodland and forest north from the
Illawarra region in New South Wales to north Queensland.
Use in horticulture
This species is not recommended for clay soils that are not well drained or sites with excessive frost. A sunny situation is preferred, though it does better with a small amount of shade. Fertilizers may be used, but are only recommended if they have a low
pH (higher acid) levels.
This plant strikes easily from tip cuttings. Alternatively, seed propagation is also successful. Seeds may be treated by very hot (but not boiling) water for two minutes. After drying overnight, they should be planted and placed in a sunny situation. Germination usually occurs within two weeks.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6872956
speciosa
Speciosa (foaled 28 April 2003) is an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. In a racing career which lasted from June 2005 and October 2007 she ran seventeen times and won four races. As a two-year-old, she won two of her six race ...
Fabales of Australia
Flora of New South Wales
Flora of Queensland
Garden plants
Taxa named by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle
Plants described in 1825