''Tetratheca stenocarpa'', commonly known as long pink-bells, is a small shrub in the family
Elaeocarpaceae. It is endemic to
Victoria in
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 ...
.
[
]
Description
It is a prostrate or weeping small shrub which grows to between 1 and 1.5 metres high and 0.5 to 1 metre wide. The leaves are triangular to rounded with toothed edges.[ The pale to deep lilac-pink (rarely white) bell-shaped flowers appear between July and January in their native range.][
It is similar in appearance to '']Tetratheca ciliata
''Tetratheca ciliata'', commonly known as pink bells, is a small shrub in the family Elaeocarpaceae. It is endemic to southern Australia.
It is a small shrub which may grow up to 100 cm high. Deep lilac pink flowers appear between October a ...
'', but the latter has petioles with only a few gland-tipped hairs.[
]
Taxonomy
The species was first formally described by James Hamlyn Willis in ''The Victorian Naturalist
''The Victorian Naturalist'' is a bimonthly scientific journal covering natural history, especially of Australia. It is published by the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria and is received as part of the membership subscription of that club. From ...
'' in 1957.[
]
Distribution
The species has a restricted distribution, occurring in damp forests in hilly country to the east of Melbourne, on French Island French Island can refer to:
*French Island (Victoria), in Australia
*French Island, Wisconsin, in the United States
* French Island No. 1 and French Island No. 2 in the Ohio River in Kentucky
*French Island, an island in Ellis Pond, Oxford County, ...
and in a separate population in Gisborne.[ It adapts well to disturbed sites, and is often found on exposed road cuttings.][
]
Cultivation
The species is free-flowering and is suitable for moist shady positions. It can be situated under established trees or at the top of retaining walls, or used in a cottage garden setting.[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q7706763
stenocarpa
Oxalidales of Australia
Flora of Victoria (state)
Plants described in 1957