Trichodesma zeylanicum
Encyclopedia
Trichodesma zeylanicum, commonly known as Camel Bush or Cattle Bush, is a herb or shrub native to Australia
.
. Flowers are blue, or rarely white.
in 1768. In 1810, Robert Brown
transferred it into Trichodesma
, but this was retained only until 1882, when Ferdinand von Mueller
transferred it into Pollichia. In 1891, Otto Kuntze
transferred it into Boraginella, and in 1898 William Philip Hiern
transferred it into Borraginoides. Despite these many later transfers, it is Brown's placement that is currently accepted.
Three varieties are recognised:
, the Northern Territory
, South Australia
, Queensland
and New South Wales
.
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...
.
Description
It grows as an erect herb or shrub up to two metres high, with a well-developed taprootTaproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
. Flowers are blue, or rarely white.
Taxonomy
This species was first published as Borago zeylanica by Nicolaas Laurens BurmanNicolaas Laurens Burman
Nicolaas Laurens Burman was a Dutch botanist.He was the son of Johannes Burman . He succeeded his father to the chair of botany at the University of Amsterdam., and at the Hortus Botanicus. He continued the correspondence with Carolus Linnaeus, joining him at the University of Uppsala in 1760...
in 1768. In 1810, 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...
transferred it into Trichodesma
Trichodesma
Trichodesma is a genus of plant in family Boraginaceae.Species include:* Trichodesma laxiflorum, Balf.f.* Trichodesma microcalyx, Balf.f.* Trichodesma scotti, Balf.f....
, but this was retained only until 1882, when Ferdinand von Mueller
Ferdinand von Mueller
Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, KCMG was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist.-Early life:...
transferred it into Pollichia. In 1891, Otto Kuntze
Otto Kuntze
Otto Carl Ernst Kuntze was a German botanist.-Biography:Otto Kuntze was born in Leipzig.An apothecary in his early career, he published an essay entitled Pocket Fauna of Leipzig. Between 1863 and...
transferred it into Boraginella, and in 1898 William Philip Hiern
William Philip Hiern
William Philip Hiern was a British mathematician and botanist.Hiern attended St. John's College, Cambridge, from 1857 to 1861 and attained a "first class degree" in mathematics...
transferred it into Borraginoides. Despite these many later transfers, it is Brown's placement that is currently accepted.
Three varieties are recognised:
- T. zeylanicum var. grandiflorum
- T. zeylanicum var. latisepalum
- T. zeylanicum var. zeylanicum
Distribution and habitat
It is fairly widespread in Australia, occurring in Western AustraliaWestern 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...
, the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, South Australia
South 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...
, 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...
and 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...
.