Bossiaea aquifolium

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Water bush

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Genus: Bossiaea
Species:
B. aquifolium
Binomial name
Bossiaea aquifolium
Benth.[2]
Occurrence data from AVH

Bossiaea aquifolium, commonly known as water bush, nedik[3] or netic, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae and is endemic to Southwest Australia. It is a slender shrub or small tree with egg-shaped leaves arranged in opposite pairs and yellowish flowers arranged singly or in pairs on the ends of branchlets.

Description

Bossiaea aquifolium is a slender shrub or tree that typically grows to a height of up to 8 m (26 ft) and has thin, sometimes hairy branchlets. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs and are holly-like, egg-shaped to more or less round, either with wavy edges and nine or more sharp points on the edges or more than fifteen teeth with only a single sharp point on the tip. The leaves are 8–22 mm (0.31–0.87 in) long and 8–20 mm (0.31–0.79 in) wide on a

pod 11–24 mm (0.43–0.94 in) long. The seeds are reddish to brownish and there are about 70 seeds per gram.[3][4][5][6]

Taxonomy and naming

Bossiaea aquifolium was first described in 1864 by the botanist

Linnaean name for holly.[9]

The Noongar peoples know the tree as netic.[10] The common name "water bush" is apt because rainwater collects in leaf axils, and splashes when the plant is brushed against.[6]

In 1994, James H. Ross reduced Bossiaea laidlawiana Tovey & P.Morris to a subspecies of Bossiaea aquifolium as Bossiaea aquifolium subsp. laidlawiana in the journal Muelleria and the name, and that of the autonym, are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:[6]

  • Bossiaea aquifolium Benth. subsp. aquifolium[11] has leaves with between five and eleven sharp point on the edges, the edges wavy between the points;[6]
  • Bossiaea aquifolium subsp. laidlawiana (Tovey & P.Morris) J.H.Ross[12] has leaves with only the tip having a sharp point, but there are eleven to twenty-five teeth on the edges, and there is no wavy edge between the teeth.[6]

Distribution and habitat

Water bush grows in clay or loam soils over

Nannup,[6][13] and subsp. laidlawiana from near Nannup and south to near Lake Muir.[6][14]

Conservation status

Both subspecies of B. aquifolium are listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[13][14]

Use in horticulture

This species can be grown from seed and prefers a light to medium well-drained moist soil in a semi-protected position. It is

drought resistant but susceptible to frost. Hot water treatment or scarification is recommended prior to planting.[3][15]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T172928194A172928196.en
    . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Bossiaea aquifolium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "Bossiaea aquifolium Water Bush". Nindethana Seeds. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
  4. ^
    ISBN 9781877058844
    .
  5. ^
    Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
    .
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Ross, James H. (2006). "A conspectus of the Western Australian Bossiaea species (Bossiaeeae: Fabaceae)". Muelleria. 23: 31–37. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Bossiaea aquifolium". APNI. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  8. ^ Bentham, George; von Mueller, Ferdinand (1864). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 2. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 157. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  9. ISBN 9780958034180
    .
  10. ^ "Noongar names for plants". kippleonline.net. Archived from the original on 2016-11-20. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Bossiaea aquifolium subsp. aquifolium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Bossiaea aquifolium subsp. laidlawiana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  13. ^
    Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
    .
  14. ^
    Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
    .
  15. ^ "Bossiaea aquifolium". Australian Seed. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
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