Geijera parviflora, commonly known as wilga,[2] is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to inland parts of eastern Australia. It has drooping branches, linear to narrow lance-shaped leaves, small white flowers in loose panicles and spherical fruit containing a shiny black seed. Other vernacular names include Australian willow, native willow, sheepbush and dogwood.[3]
Geijera parviflora is a shrub or tree that typically grows to a height of 8–10 m (26–33 ft) and has drooping branches and leaves often reaching ground level, but these are often grazed by sheep. The leaves are glossy dark green, linear to lance-shaped, 35–180 mm (1.4–7.1 in) long and 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) wide on a petiole 3–12 mm (0.12–0.47 in) long. The leaves give off a strong smell when crushed. The flowers are arranged in loose panicles 40–70 mm (1.6–2.8 in) long, each flower on a pedicel about 1 mm (0.039 in) long. The sepals are 0.8–1 mm (0.031–0.039 in) long, the petals white and 1.5–2.5 mm (0.059–0.098 in) long. The smell of the flowers has been described as foetid, but also as citrus-scented and attracts insects. Flowering occurs from June to November and the fruit is more or less spherical, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) in diameter, each containing a single shiny black seed.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Taxonomyedit
Geijera parviflora was first formally described in 1848 by English botanist John Lindley in Thomas Mitchell'sJournal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia.[8] The specific epithet parviflora is from the Latin, meaning "small flowers".
Distribution and habitatedit
Wilga prefers calcareous soils, either red clays or sandy soils, and grows as scattered trees in open woodland or occasionally in stands.[3] It is mainly found in inland New South Wales and Queensland, extending into south-eastern South Australia and is rare in Victoria where it is only known from the north-west of the state, near Kenley.[2][6][7]
Usesedit
Wilga is a useful shade and fodder tree in agricultural areas. Sheep particularly enjoy grazing on the lower branches, although trees appear to vary greatly in palatability (some are eagerly sought after and others ignored). The reason for this variation is unknown, and soil composition is speculated as a cause.[3] Despite being slow growing, it is planted in Australia and overseas as an ornamental. It prefers full sunshine, and can tolerate the occasional light frost and drought. Indigenous Australians chewed the aromatic leaves for alleviating toothache.[5] Regeneration from fresh seed and cuttings has proven to be difficult. It is suggested that the hard seed coat should be cracked, to assist seed germination.[9]
Galleryedit
Willowy leaves
Habit
Flower close up
Flowers attract insects
Referencesedit
^ ab"Geijera parviflora". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ abcPorteners, Marianne F. "Geijera parviflora". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ abcdCunningham, Geoff M.; Mulham, William E.; Milthorpe, Peter L.; Leigh, John H. (1981). Plants of Western New South Wales. Sydney, New South Wales: NSW Government Printing Service. pp. 447–48. ISBN0-7240-2003-9.
^"Geijera parviflora". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ abGreig, Denise (1998). A Photographic Guide to Trees in Australia. p. 102. ISBN1-86436-326-6.
^ abDuretto, Marco F. "Geihera parviflora". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^ ab"Geijera parviflora". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
^"Geijera parviflora". APNI. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
geijera, parviflora, commonly, known, wilga, species, shrub, small, tree, family, rutaceae, endemic, inland, parts, eastern, australia, drooping, branches, linear, narrow, lance, shaped, leaves, small, white, flowers, loose, panicles, spherical, fruit, contain. Geijera parviflora commonly known as wilga 2 is a species of shrub or small tree in the family Rutaceae and is endemic to inland parts of eastern Australia It has drooping branches linear to narrow lance shaped leaves small white flowers in loose panicles and spherical fruit containing a shiny black seed Other vernacular names include Australian willow native willow sheepbush and dogwood 3 WilgaCultivated specimen Springs PreserveScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder SapindalesFamily RutaceaeGenus GeijeraSpecies G parvifloraBinomial nameGeijera parvifloraLindl 1 Synonyms 1 Geijera parviflora Lindl var parviflora Geijera pendula Lindl Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Uses 5 Gallery 6 ReferencesDescription editGeijera parviflora is a shrub or tree that typically grows to a height of 8 10 m 26 33 ft and has drooping branches and leaves often reaching ground level but these are often grazed by sheep The leaves are glossy dark green linear to lance shaped 35 180 mm 1 4 7 1 in long and 4 10 mm 0 16 0 39 in wide on a petiole 3 12 mm 0 12 0 47 in long The leaves give off a strong smell when crushed The flowers are arranged in loose panicles 40 70 mm 1 6 2 8 in long each flower on a pedicel about 1 mm 0 039 in long The sepals are 0 8 1 mm 0 031 0 039 in long the petals white and 1 5 2 5 mm 0 059 0 098 in long The smell of the flowers has been described as foetid but also as citrus scented and attracts insects Flowering occurs from June to November and the fruit is more or less spherical 4 5 mm 0 16 0 20 in in diameter each containing a single shiny black seed 2 3 4 5 6 7 Taxonomy editGeijera parviflora was first formally described in 1848 by English botanist John Lindley in Thomas Mitchell s Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia 8 The specific epithet parviflora is from the Latin meaning small flowers Distribution and habitat editWilga prefers calcareous soils either red clays or sandy soils and grows as scattered trees in open woodland or occasionally in stands 3 It is mainly found in inland New South Wales and Queensland extending into south eastern South Australia and is rare in Victoria where it is only known from the north west of the state near Kenley 2 6 7 Uses editWilga is a useful shade and fodder tree in agricultural areas Sheep particularly enjoy grazing on the lower branches although trees appear to vary greatly in palatability some are eagerly sought after and others ignored The reason for this variation is unknown and soil composition is speculated as a cause 3 Despite being slow growing it is planted in Australia and overseas as an ornamental It prefers full sunshine and can tolerate the occasional light frost and drought Indigenous Australians chewed the aromatic leaves for alleviating toothache 5 Regeneration from fresh seed and cuttings has proven to be difficult It is suggested that the hard seed coat should be cracked to assist seed germination 9 Gallery edit nbsp Willowy leaves nbsp Habit nbsp Flower close up nbsp Flowers attract insectsReferences edit a b Geijera parviflora Australian Plant Census Retrieved 20 July 2020 a b c Porteners Marianne F Geijera parviflora Royal Botanic Garden Sydney Retrieved 20 July 2020 a b c d Cunningham Geoff M Mulham William E Milthorpe Peter L Leigh John H 1981 Plants of Western New South Wales Sydney New South Wales NSW Government Printing Service pp 447 48 ISBN 0 7240 2003 9 Geijera parviflora Australian Biological Resources Study Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment Canberra Retrieved 20 July 2020 a b Greig Denise 1998 A Photographic Guide to Trees in Australia p 102 ISBN 1 86436 326 6 a b Duretto Marco F Geihera parviflora Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Retrieved 20 July 2020 a b Geijera parviflora State Herbarium of South Australia Retrieved 20 July 2020 Geijera parviflora APNI Retrieved 20 July 2020 Growing Australian Native Plants From Seed by Murray Ralph ISBN 978 0 646 42866 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geijera parviflora amp oldid 1153536921, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
