Crowea saligna

Crowea saligna, commonly known as willow-leaved crowea, is a plant in the rue family, Rutaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales in Australia. It is a small shrub with attractive, pink, star-shaped flowers and is commonly cultivated.

Crowea saligna
Crowea saligna growing in the Royal National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Rutaceae
Genus: Crowea
Species:
C. saligna
Binomial name
Crowea saligna
Synonyms[1]
  • Crowea latifolia Lodd. ex G.Don
  • Crowea macrantha Hérincq nom. inval., pro syn.
  • Crowea saligna var. major Anon.
  • Crowea saligna Andrews var. saligna
  • Crowea saligna var. stricta Anon.
  • Eriostemon crowei F.Muell. nom. illeg., nom. superfl. p.p.
  • Eriostemon salignum Baill. orth. var.
  • Eriostemon salignus (Andrews) Baill.

Description

Crowea saligna is a small shrub usually growing to a height of about 1–1.5 metres (3–5 ft) with conspicuously angled branches. The leaves are 30–60 millimetres (1–2 in), 3–13 millimetres (0.1–0.5 in) wide and are narrow elliptic to lance-shaped. They are also dark green, shiny, dotted with oil glands and there is a distinct mid-vein.[2][3][4]

The flowers develop in the axils of leaves on a stalk 5-13 millimetres (<1/2 inch) long. There are 5 short, broad sepals and 5 overlapping petals forming a "star" shape. The petals are pink, sometimes white and are 12-18 millimetres (1/2-1 inch) long. The stamens are hairy and enclose the centre of the flower. The flowers appear from January to June and the fruits that follow are dry and have 5 compartments which open to release 2 seeds each.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Crowea saligna was first formally described in 1800 by Henry Cranke Andrews. The description was published in The Botanist's Repository for New, and Rare Plants.[5][6] The specific epithet (saligna) is a Latin word meaning " of willow".[7]

Distribution and habitat

Willow-leaved crowea occurs in Sydney between Woy Woy and Yerrinbool and on the adjacent Blue Mountains. It grows in sheltered locations on sandstone.[2][3]

Use in horticulture

Crowea saligna is widely cultivated due to its attractive flowers that appear when most other species are dormant. It prefers a well-drained position in sun or semi shade. It grows best in moist soils but will tolerate extended dry periods once established.[4][8]

References
  1. "Crowea saligna". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  2. Roger, Carolin; Tindale, Mary (1994). Flora of the Sydney region (4th ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Reed. p. 438. ISBN 0730104001.
  3. Porteners, M.F.; Weston, P.H. "Crowea saligna". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, plantnet. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  4. "Crowea saligna". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  5. "Crowea saligna". APNI. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  6. Andrews, Henry C. (1800). The Botanists Repository for New and Rare Plants Volume 2. p. 79. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 857.
  8. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 203. ISBN 0002165759.
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