Stenocarpus umbelliferus
Encyclopedia
Stenocarpus umbelliferus is a species of flowering plant
in the family Proteaceae
. It is endemic to New Caledonia
. It has an prostrate or upright habit, growing up to 5 metres in height. Stems are flattened when young, later becoming rounded. The leaves are thick and leathery with a slightly wavy margin. These may be ovate, elliptic, lanceolate or spathulate in shape with petioles that are 3 to 12 mm long. White, cream or pale yellow flowers occur in groups of 3 to 8 per umbel. These are followed by dark-coloured glabrous follicles that are 25 to 80 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide.
The species was collected by botanist Johann Reinhold Forster
and his son Georg Forster
during James Cook
's second voyage (1772-1775) and formally described by them in 1775.
Two varieties are currently recognised:
The species is common at altitudes between 20 and 1300 metres on the mainland as well as the Isle of Pines
.
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
in the family 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,...
. It is endemic to New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
. It has an prostrate or upright habit, growing up to 5 metres in height. Stems are flattened when young, later becoming rounded. The leaves are thick and leathery with a slightly wavy margin. These may be ovate, elliptic, lanceolate or spathulate in shape with petioles that are 3 to 12 mm long. White, cream or pale yellow flowers occur in groups of 3 to 8 per umbel. These are followed by dark-coloured glabrous follicles that are 25 to 80 mm long and 3 to 5 mm wide.
The species was collected by botanist Johann Reinhold Forster
Johann Reinhold Forster
Johann Reinhold Forster was a German Lutheran pastor and naturalist of partial Scottish descent who made contributions to the early ornithology of Europe and North America...
and his son Georg Forster
Georg Forster
Johann Georg Adam Forster was a German naturalist, ethnologist, travel writer, journalist, and revolutionary. At an early age, he accompanied his father on several scientific expeditions, including James Cook's second voyage to the Pacific...
during James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
's second voyage (1772-1775) and formally described by them in 1775.
Two varieties are currently recognised:
- S. umbelliferus var. billardieri (Brongn. & Gris) Guillaumin
- S. umbelliferus (JR.& G.Forster) Druce var. umbelliferus
The species is common at altitudes between 20 and 1300 metres on the mainland as well as the Isle of Pines
Isle of Pines, New Caledonia
The Isle of Pines is an island located in the Pacific Ocean, in the archipelago of New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France. The island is part of the commune of L'Île-des-Pins, in the South Province of New Caledonia. The Isle of Pines is nicknamed l'île la plus proche du paradis...
.