Rulingia dasyphylla
Encyclopedia
Rulingia dasyphylla, commonly known as kerrawang, is a species
of shrub of the Malvaceae
family native to eastern Australia
.
It was initially described by H.C. Andrews as Commersonia dasyphylla in 1810, before being given its current binomial name by Robert Sweet
in 1826. The genus name commemorates 18th century German botanist Johann Philipp Rüling, while the species name is derived from Ancient Greek
dasys "hairy" and phyllon "leaf", and refers to cottonlike hairs covering the leaves.
The kerrawang grows as a shrub reaching 1 to 4 metres (3–13 ft) in height. The dark green leaves are prominently wrinkled, and measure 3–7 cm (1–3 in) in length by 0.5–3 cm (0.2-1.2 in) wide. They are lanceolate to obovate in shape with dentate or lobed margins. The stems are covered in fine hairs. The small flowers appear from September to January and are white or rarely pale pink and measure 0.8 cm (0.3 in) in diameter, and are followed by hairy brown capsules.
The range is across eastern Australia from southeastern Queensland
through New South Wales
and into eastern Victoria
, the preferred habitat is gullies in forested areas. Flies are the likely most common pollinators, and native bees, beetles, and diurnal moths may do so as well. The kerrawang is killed by bushfire and regenerates from seed.
In Victoria, the species is listed as "threatened" under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and "vulnerable" on the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria.
Its fibres were used for basket making by the local Cadigal
people of Sydney. First cultivated in England in 1819 as Rulingia pannosa, the kerrawang is a fast growing and ornamental shrub. It prefers semishaded areas with fair drainage and mildly acid soil. It seeds readily, and can be easily propagated from seed or cuttings.
The kerrawang, an Australian shrub, should not be confused with the kurrajong
, an Australian tree whose bark is used to make twine, or the currawong
, an Australian genus of crow-like bird.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of shrub of 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 native to eastern 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...
.
It was initially described by H.C. Andrews as Commersonia dasyphylla in 1810, before being given its current binomial name by Robert Sweet
Robert Sweet (botanist)
Robert Sweet was an English botanist, horticulturist and ornithologist.Born at Cockington near Torquay, Devonshire, England in 1783, Sweet worked as a gardener from the age of sixteen, and became foreman or partner in a series of nurseries. He was associated with nurseries at Stockwell, Fulham...
in 1826. The genus name commemorates 18th century German botanist Johann Philipp Rüling, while the species name is derived from Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
dasys "hairy" and phyllon "leaf", and refers to cottonlike hairs covering the leaves.
The kerrawang grows as a shrub reaching 1 to 4 metres (3–13 ft) in height. The dark green leaves are prominently wrinkled, and measure 3–7 cm (1–3 in) in length by 0.5–3 cm (0.2-1.2 in) wide. They are lanceolate to obovate in shape with dentate or lobed margins. The stems are covered in fine hairs. The small flowers appear from September to January and are white or rarely pale pink and measure 0.8 cm (0.3 in) in diameter, and are followed by hairy brown capsules.
The range is across eastern Australia from southeastern Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
through New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and into eastern Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, the preferred habitat is gullies in forested areas. Flies are the likely most common pollinators, and native bees, beetles, and diurnal moths may do so as well. The kerrawang is killed by bushfire and regenerates from seed.
In Victoria, the species is listed as "threatened" under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and "vulnerable" on the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Advisory List of Rare Or Threatened Plants In Victoria.
Its fibres were used for basket making by the local Cadigal
Cadigal
The Cadigal, also spelled as Gadigal, are a group of Aboriginal Australians who originally inhabited the area that they called 'Cadi', part of which later became known as the Marrickville Local Government Area of Sydney. Cadigal territory lies south of Port Jackson and stretches from South Head to...
people of Sydney. First cultivated in England in 1819 as Rulingia pannosa, the kerrawang is a fast growing and ornamental shrub. It prefers semishaded areas with fair drainage and mildly acid soil. It seeds readily, and can be easily propagated from seed or cuttings.
The kerrawang, an Australian shrub, should not be confused with the kurrajong
Brachychiton
Brachychiton is a genus of 31 species of trees and large shrubs, native to Australia , and New Guinea . Fossils from New South Wales and New Zealand are estimated to be 50 million years old, corresponding to the Tertiary.They grow to 4 – 30m tall, and some are dry-season deciduous...
, an Australian tree whose bark is used to make twine, or the currawong
Currawong
Currawongs are three species of medium-sized passerine birds belonging to the genus Strepera in the family Artamidae native to Australasia. These are the Grey Currawong , Pied Currawong , and Black Currawong . The common name comes from the call of the familiar Pied Currawong of eastern Australia...
, an Australian genus of crow-like bird.
External links
- An image of the kerrawang among other plants at Australian-Insects.com