Bellendena montana, commonly known as mountain rocket, is a species of low-growing multi-stemmed shrub in the plant family Proteaceae. It is endemic to high-altitude subalpine and alpine regions in Tasmania, Australia. The prominent white flower spikes appear over summer, followed by small bright red or yellow fruit in late summer and autumn.
Described by Robert Brown in 1810, it is the sole member of the genus Bellendena, which is in turn the sole member of subfamily Bellendenoideae, and is thought to represent an early offshoot within the family.[3]
Scottish botanist Robert Brown described the mountain rocket in 1810 as Bellendena montana,[4] naming the genus in honour of John Bellenden Ker Gawler for his botanical works. The species name is the Latin adjective montanus and refers to its montane habitat.[5] Its common name refers to its red-tipped rocket-shaped flowerheads.[5]
Phylogenetic studies often place this genus as basal (one of the earliest offshoots) to the rest of the Proteaceae, though its exact position and relationships are unclear. A 2006 analysis, sythesesizing of molecular and other studies, by Weston and Barker[3] located it as sister to the subfamily Persoonioideae, the two sharing a common ancestor which diverged from the other Proteaceae. However, the genus has an anatomical feature, laterocytic stomata (having 3 or more parallel specialised subsidiary cells), which it shares with the Platanaceae (next closest relatives to the Proteaceae) and no other Proteaceae, which indicate it diverged from all other members of the family first.[3]
Descriptionedit
Bellendena montana grows as a low, spreading multistemmed shrub to anywhere from 10 cm to 1.8 m high,[4] and 1 m in diameter. The leaves are thick and variable,[5] ranging from oblanceolate to spathulate to wedge-shaped (cuneate) in shape with recurved margins and measuring 1–6 cm long and 0.2 to 2.2 cm wide. Plants from north-eastern Tasmania have narrower leaves than elsewhere, and populations from higher altitudes have smaller leaves and more crowded foliage.[4] The flowers occur in terminal racemes which are held on short stems above the foliage.[5] These are followed by small egg-shaped (obovate) bright red or yellow fruit, which are ripe in late summer and autumn.[6]
Distribution and habitatedit
Bellendena montana is found at altitudes above 1000 m (3500 ft), though rarely lower to 400 m.[4] It grows on low-nutrient soils (mostly dolerite, but sometimes quartzite or basalt-derived[4]) with good drainage, often rocky outcrops,[6] as well as more boggy areas and alpine heathland.[4]
Cultivationedit
The plant has attractive flowers, fruit and foliage, but is not often cultivated because it is difficult to grow at low altitudes. Propagation by seed or cutting is unreliable.[7]
Referencesedit
^"Bellendena montana R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
^"Bellendena R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
^ abcWeston, Peter H.; Barker, Nigel P. (2006). (PDF). Telopea. 11 (3): 314–344. doi:10.7751/telopea20065733. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-10-02.
^ abcdWrigley, John; Fagg, Murray (1991). Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. pp. 543–45. ISBN0-207-17277-3.
^ abDepartment of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. "Bellendena montana" (PDF). Flora of Tasmania. Tasmanian Government. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
^Walters, Brian (December 2008). . Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) website. Archived from the original on 2007-09-03. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
bellendena, montana, commonly, known, mountain, rocket, species, growing, multi, stemmed, shrub, plant, family, proteaceae, endemic, high, altitude, subalpine, alpine, regions, tasmania, australia, prominent, white, flower, spikes, appear, over, summer, follow. Bellendena montana commonly known as mountain rocket is a species of low growing multi stemmed shrub in the plant family Proteaceae It is endemic to high altitude subalpine and alpine regions in Tasmania Australia The prominent white flower spikes appear over summer followed by small bright red or yellow fruit in late summer and autumn Bellendena Above habit Below detail of inflorescences Scientific classification Kingdom Plantae Clade Tracheophytes Clade Angiosperms Clade Eudicots Order Proteales Family Proteaceae Subfamily BellendenoideaeP H Weston Genus BellendenaR Br 2 Species B montana Binomial name Bellendena montanaR Br 1 Described by Robert Brown in 1810 it is the sole member of the genus Bellendena which is in turn the sole member of subfamily Bellendenoideae and is thought to represent an early offshoot within the family 3 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Cultivation 5 References 6 External linksTaxonomy editScottish botanist Robert Brown described the mountain rocket in 1810 as Bellendena montana 4 naming the genus in honour of John Bellenden Ker Gawler for his botanical works The species name is the Latin adjective montanus and refers to its montane habitat 5 Its common name refers to its red tipped rocket shaped flowerheads 5 Phylogenetic studies often place this genus as basal one of the earliest offshoots to the rest of the Proteaceae though its exact position and relationships are unclear A 2006 analysis sythesesizing of molecular and other studies by Weston and Barker 3 located it as sister to the subfamily Persoonioideae the two sharing a common ancestor which diverged from the other Proteaceae However the genus has an anatomical feature laterocytic stomata having 3 or more parallel specialised subsidiary cells which it shares with the Platanaceae next closest relatives to the Proteaceae and no other Proteaceae which indicate it diverged from all other members of the family first 3 Description editBellendena montana grows as a low spreading multistemmed shrub to anywhere from 10 cm to 1 8 m high 4 and 1 m in diameter The leaves are thick and variable 5 ranging from oblanceolate to spathulate to wedge shaped cuneate in shape with recurved margins and measuring 1 6 cm long and 0 2 to 2 2 cm wide Plants from north eastern Tasmania have narrower leaves than elsewhere and populations from higher altitudes have smaller leaves and more crowded foliage 4 The flowers occur in terminal racemes which are held on short stems above the foliage 5 These are followed by small egg shaped obovate bright red or yellow fruit which are ripe in late summer and autumn 6 Distribution and habitat editBellendena montana is found at altitudes above 1000 m 3500 ft though rarely lower to 400 m 4 It grows on low nutrient soils mostly dolerite but sometimes quartzite or basalt derived 4 with good drainage often rocky outcrops 6 as well as more boggy areas and alpine heathland 4 Cultivation editThe plant has attractive flowers fruit and foliage but is not often cultivated because it is difficult to grow at low altitudes Propagation by seed or cutting is unreliable 7 References edit Bellendena montana R Br Australian Plant Name Index APNI IBIS database Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research Australian Government Bellendena R Br Australian Plant Name Index APNI IBIS database Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research Australian Government a b c Weston Peter H Barker Nigel P 2006 A new suprageneric classification of the Proteaceae with an annotated checklist of genera PDF Telopea 11 3 314 344 doi 10 7751 telopea20065733 Archived from the original PDF on 2009 10 02 a b c d e f Bellendena montana R Br Flora of Australia Online Department of the Environment and Heritage Australian Government a b c d Wrigley John Fagg Murray 1991 Banksias Waratahs and Grevilleas Sydney Angus amp Robertson pp 543 45 ISBN 0 207 17277 3 a b Department of Primary Industries Parks Water and Environment Bellendena montana PDF Flora of Tasmania Tasmanian Government Retrieved 6 April 2013 Walters Brian December 2008 Bellendena montanum Australian Native Plants Society Australia website Archived from the original on 2007 09 03 Retrieved 6 April 2013 Bellendena R Br Flora of Australia Online Department of the Environment and Heritage Australian Government External links edit nbsp Media related to Bellendena at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bellendena amp oldid 1104366947, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
