Persoonioideae
Encyclopedia
The Persoonioideae are a subfamily of closely releted genera within the large and diverse Proteaceae
family and incorporates such genera as Persoonia
, Acidonia
, Toronia and Placospermum.
Like most Proteaceae
, the great majority of species of Persoonioideae are plants of well-drained, acid, siliceous soils that are low in nutrients. Two south western species (Acidonia microcarpa, Persoonia graminea) grow in swampy habitats, three others (P. acicularis, P. bowgada and P. hexagona) tolerate mildly calcareous soils, and several south eastern species sometimes grow on basalt-derived soils, and but these are exceptional. The greatest diversity of species is found in areas with soils derived from sandstones and granites.
Placospermum coriaceum is the only species of Persoonioideae that usually completes its entire life cycle in rainforests. The others are basically plants of the shrubby strata of heathlands, and sclerophyll
forests and woodlands. However, some species, such as Persoonia arborea
, P. media and P. amaliae occasionally find themselves surrounded by rainforests that have replaced the sclerophyll communities in which the plants germinated.
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
family and incorporates such genera as Persoonia
Persoonia
Persoonia is a genus of 98 species of shrubs and small trees in the tribe Persoonioideae in the large and diverse plant family Proteaceae. In the eastern states of Australia, they are commonly known as Geebungs, while in Western Australia and South Australia they go by the common name Snottygobbles...
, Acidonia
Acidonia
Acidonia microcarpa is a species of shrub in the plant family Proteaceae. It is endemic to the south coast of the Southwest Botanic Province of Western Australia....
, Toronia and Placospermum.
Like most Proteaceae
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
, the great majority of species of Persoonioideae are plants of well-drained, acid, siliceous soils that are low in nutrients. Two south western species (Acidonia microcarpa, Persoonia graminea) grow in swampy habitats, three others (P. acicularis, P. bowgada and P. hexagona) tolerate mildly calcareous soils, and several south eastern species sometimes grow on basalt-derived soils, and but these are exceptional. The greatest diversity of species is found in areas with soils derived from sandstones and granites.
Placospermum coriaceum is the only species of Persoonioideae that usually completes its entire life cycle in rainforests. The others are basically plants of the shrubby strata of heathlands, and sclerophyll
Sclerophyll
Sclerophyll is the term for a type of vegetation that has hard leaves and short internodes . The word comes from the Greek sclero and phyllon ....
forests and woodlands. However, some species, such as Persoonia arborea
Persoonia arborea
Persoonia arborea, commonly known as Tree Geebung, is a small tree species that is endemic to Victoria, Australia. It grows to between 5 and 10 metres in height. The leaves widen toward the tips, which are rounded. The yellow or cream flowers have four petals and appear between December and...
, P. media and P. amaliae occasionally find themselves surrounded by rainforests that have replaced the sclerophyll communities in which the plants germinated.