Cryptandra arbutiflora
Encyclopedia
Cryptandra arbutiflora (Waxy Cryptandra) is a shrub species in the Buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae
. It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia
, occurring between the south coast and the Dandaragan
area to the north and also near Geraldton
. It ranges from 0.05 to 1 metre in height and produces cream bell-shaped flowers between May and November. The species was first formally described by botanist Eduard Fenzl
based on plant material collected by Charles von Hügel
from the Swan River
area. Fenzl's description was published in 1837 in Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad fluvium Cygnorum et in sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus Liber Baro de Hügel The Latin specific epithet arbutiflora alludes to the flowers which are reminiscent of those of Arbutus unedo, the Irish Strawberry Tree.
Four varieties are currently recognised:
A former variety C. arbutiflora var. intermedia is now regarded as a species in its own right - Cryptandra intermedia.
Rhamnaceae
Rhamnaceae, the Buckthorn family, is a large family of flowering plants, mostly trees, shrubs and some vines.The family contains 50-60 genera and approximately 870-900 species. The Rhamnaceae have a worldwide distribution, but are more common in the subtropical and tropical regions...
. It is endemic to the south-west of 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...
, occurring between the south coast and the Dandaragan
Dandaragan, Western Australia
Dandaragan is a small town in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.The name of Dandaragan was first recorded in 1850 as the name of a nearby gulley and spring or watering hole known as Dandaraga spring...
area to the north and also near Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
. It ranges from 0.05 to 1 metre in height and produces cream bell-shaped flowers between May and November. The species was first formally described by botanist Eduard Fenzl
Eduard Fenzl
Eduard Fenzl was an Austrian botanist.An obituary notes "[h]e was Professor of Botany and Director of the Imperial Botanical Cabinet, a member of the Vienna Academy of Sciences, and Vice-President of the Vienna Horticultural Society."...
based on plant material collected by Charles von Hügel
Charles von Hügel
Charles von Hügel was an Austrian army officer, diplomat, botanist and explorer, now primarily remembered for his travels in northern India during the 1830s...
from the Swan River
Swan River Colony
The Swan River Colony was a British settlement established in 1829 on the Swan River, in Western Australia. The name was a pars pro toto for Western Australia. In 1832, the colony was officially renamed Western Australia, when the colony's founding Lieutenant-Governor, Captain James Stirling,...
area. Fenzl's description was published in 1837 in Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad fluvium Cygnorum et in sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus Liber Baro de Hügel The Latin specific epithet arbutiflora alludes to the flowers which are reminiscent of those of Arbutus unedo, the Irish Strawberry Tree.
Four varieties are currently recognised:
- C. arbutiflora Fenzl var. arbutiflora
- C. arbutiflora var. borealis Rye
- C. arbutiflora var. pygmaea Rye
- C. arbutiflora var. tubulosa (Fenzl) Benth.
A former variety C. arbutiflora var. intermedia is now regarded as a species in its own right - Cryptandra intermedia.