Dracophyllum secundum

Dracophyllum secundum is a prostrate to semi-erect shrub found in eastern Australia. It occurs from as far south as Pigeon House Mountain north to Kendall, New South Wales on the mid north coast. A common plant in the Blue Mountains near Sydney. Found as far west as Blackheath.[1] It is often noticed by bushwalkers for the attractive flowers and arching foliage. The specific epithet secundum means "arranged on one side only".

Dracophyllum secundum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Dracophyllum
Species:
D. secundum
Binomial name
Dracophyllum secundum
Synonyms

Habitat

The habitat is moist rocky areas and wet cliff faces, usually on sandstone.[2] Sites are nutrient poor with permanent moisture. The range of altitude is from sea level to 1,100 metres (3,600 ft) above sea level, with an average annual rainfall between 900 millimetres (35 in) and 1,600 millimetres (63 in).

Description

The shrub is around 60 centimetres (24 in) tall with narrow crowded leaves with pointed tips. Leaves are 12 centimetres (4.7 in) long by 1 centimetre (0.39 in) wide, smooth edged or slightly toothed.

Flowering occurs mainly from July to October. Flowers are pink and white. Bell shaped flowers are 6–8 millimetres (0.24–0.31 in) long, appearing on a long raceme. The fruit is a capsule, around 5 millimetres (0.20 in) in diameter. Seeds are dispersed by wind, water and gravity.

Taxonomy

This plant first appeared in scientific literature in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae in the year 1810, authored by Robert Brown.

References
  1. "Dracophyllum secundum". PlantNET - NSW Flora Online. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  2. Alan Fairley – Wildflowers of Sydney & adjoining areas ISBN 1-876473-38-X page 111.


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