Alyogyne hakeifolia
Encyclopedia
Alyogyne hakeifolia is a flowering plant
found in southern regions of Australia
. The plant is similar to a Hibiscus
and was assumed to be part of that genus
for many years. It is known to have been cultivated in England
since the mid nineteenth century.
, up to three metres high, Alyogyne Hakeifolia is densely covered in fine leaves. The species is known for its rapid growth, especially under favourable conditions.
Flowering begins between May and August in its native habitat, and continues until February. The flowers are variously blue, purple, or various shades of creamy yellow; they become deeply coloured and papery when spent. Bloom
s appear profusely after the first or second year, are deeply cupped in form, and have five large petals which open to reveal the deep red centre.
The plant can be distinguished from Hibiscus, another genus in the Malvaceae
family, by the undivided stigma of the style.
by Robert Brown
, who referred to the plant as Hibiscus Filifolius. It was sketched by Ferdinand Bauer
at the same time and later developed into a watercolour. Many other names were given to the species, including Hibiscus Hakeifolius, Cienfuegosia Hakeifolia, Fugosia Hakeifolia, and the synonym Alyogyne Lilacina.
The current name was given in the Oesterreichische Botanische Zeitschrift (Austrian Botanical Magazine) by Friedrich Alefeld
in 1863, after the description as 'Hakeaefolius' by Ferdinando Giordano in 1833. William Jackson Hooker
also named it a Hibiscus in The Botanical Magazine in 1846.
Paul Fryxell
, in the journal "Australian Plants" (1966), described the species as one of two in a uniquely Australian genus. Along with Hibiscus Huegelii, it was transferred in 1968 to one of four Alyogyne
species.
Western Australia
, Alyogyne Hakeifolia is also found further east in the Eremaean botanical province.
The species has a preference for undulating plains of red sand, or rocky loams, and is also found on limestone in these regions.
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The natural variance of leaf form has been exploited in the selection of plants for the market. Broader and lobate leaves of some Alyogyne
cultivars may have been hybridized with Alyogyne huegelii
. The former name of Hibiscus hakeifolia and other synonyms are still given in some sources.
Propagation is successful by cuttings, well drained soil, avoidance of frosts and the usual caution regarding phosphorus and species from the region is recommended.
The species was grown in English greenhouses during the nineteenth century and is now grown in temperate climes of the United States of America and Europe.
The species was featured in Curtis's Botanical Magazine
; it gives 1846 as the year of introduction to England, by Messrs. Lucombe and Pince from 'Swan River seeds'. Writing that same year, Hooker mentions that it flowered in its first summer.
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
found in southern regions of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The plant is similar to a Hibiscus
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world...
and was assumed to be part of that genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
for many years. It is known to have been cultivated in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
since the mid nineteenth century.
Description
An erect shrubShrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
, up to three metres high, Alyogyne Hakeifolia is densely covered in fine leaves. The species is known for its rapid growth, especially under favourable conditions.
Flowering begins between May and August in its native habitat, and continues until February. The flowers are variously blue, purple, or various shades of creamy yellow; they become deeply coloured and papery when spent. Bloom
Bloom
Bloom or blooming may refer to:-Science and nature:* Bloom, one or more flowers on a flowering plant* Algal bloom, a rapid increase or accumulation in the population of algae in an aquatic system...
s appear profusely after the first or second year, are deeply cupped in form, and have five large petals which open to reveal the deep red centre.
The plant can be distinguished from Hibiscus, another genus in the Malvaceae
Malvaceae
Malvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
family, by the undivided stigma of the style.
Taxonomy
The species was first collected in 1802 at a location in South AustraliaSouth Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
by Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
, who referred to the plant as Hibiscus Filifolius. It was sketched by Ferdinand Bauer
Ferdinand Bauer
Ferdinand Lucas Bauer was an Austrian botanical illustrator who travelled on Matthew Flinders' expedition to Australia.-Biography:...
at the same time and later developed into a watercolour. Many other names were given to the species, including Hibiscus Hakeifolius, Cienfuegosia Hakeifolia, Fugosia Hakeifolia, and the synonym Alyogyne Lilacina.
The current name was given in the Oesterreichische Botanische Zeitschrift (Austrian Botanical Magazine) by Friedrich Alefeld
Friedrich Alefeld
Friedrich Georg Christoph Alefeld was a botanist, author and medical practitioner. Born in Weiterstadt-Gräfenhausen, Grand Duchy of Hesse, he described a number of plant species in his published works, taking a particular interest in legumes and malvaceae...
in 1863, after the description as 'Hakeaefolius' by Ferdinando Giordano in 1833. William Jackson Hooker
William Jackson Hooker
Sir William Jackson Hooker, FRS was an English systematic botanist and organiser. He held the post of Regius Professor of Botany at Glasgow University, and was the first Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. He enjoyed the friendship and support of Sir Joseph Banks for his exploring,...
also named it a Hibiscus in The Botanical Magazine in 1846.
Paul Fryxell
Paul Fryxell
Paul A. Fryxell Paul A. Fryxell Paul A. Fryxell (born 2 February 1927, Moline, Illinois, died July 11, 2011 Claremont, California was an American botanist.He attended Moline public schools and later Augustana College, graduating with a B.A. in 1949, and Iowa State University (M.S., 1951, Ph.D., 1955)...
, in the journal "Australian Plants" (1966), described the species as one of two in a uniquely Australian genus. Along with Hibiscus Huegelii, it was transferred in 1968 to one of four Alyogyne
Alyogyne
Alyogyne is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae which are endemic to Australia. Its species were formerly in the genus Hibiscus but were split off starting in 1863 with H. hakaeifolius. In 1915 Lewton transferred H. cuneiformis and in Fryxell H. pinonianus and H. huegelii followed...
species.
Distribution
Widely distributed throughout south westSouthwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, Alyogyne Hakeifolia is also found further east in the Eremaean botanical province.
The species has a preference for undulating plains of red sand, or rocky loams, and is also found on limestone in these regions.
Cultivation
Alyogyne
Alyogyne is a genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae which are endemic to Australia. Its species were formerly in the genus Hibiscus but were split off starting in 1863 with H. hakaeifolius. In 1915 Lewton transferred H. cuneiformis and in Fryxell H. pinonianus and H. huegelii followed...
cultivars may have been hybridized with Alyogyne huegelii
Alyogyne huegelii
Alyogyne huegelii is a flowering plant found in the Southwest botanical province of Western Australia, extending along its entire coastline....
. The former name of Hibiscus hakeifolia and other synonyms are still given in some sources.
Propagation is successful by cuttings, well drained soil, avoidance of frosts and the usual caution regarding phosphorus and species from the region is recommended.
The species was grown in English greenhouses during the nineteenth century and is now grown in temperate climes of the United States of America and Europe.
The species was featured in Curtis's Botanical Magazine
Curtis's Botanical Magazine
The Botanical Magazine; or Flower-Garden Displayed, is an illustrated publication which began in 1787. The longest running botanical magazine, it is widely referred to by the subsequent name Curtis's Botanical Magazine....
; it gives 1846 as the year of introduction to England, by Messrs. Lucombe and Pince from 'Swan River seeds'. Writing that same year, Hooker mentions that it flowered in its first summer.