Lomatia ilicifolia

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lomatia ilicifolia
Lomatia ilicifolia (cultivated) in Ku-Ring-Gai Wildflower Garden (N.S.W.)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Lomatia
Species:
L. ilicifolia
Binomial name
Lomatia ilicifolia
R.Br.[1]
Synonyms

Embothrium ilicifolium (R.Br.) Poir. Tricondylus ilicifolius (R.Br.) Kuntze nom. rej.

Lomatia ilicifolia, commonly known as holly lomatia or native holly, is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a stiff, erect shrub with hairy, rust-coloured new growth and which recovers from fire from a lignotuber. It has dull green, leathery, prickly, holly-like leaves and long sprays of cream flowers, usually after fire.

Description

Lomatia ilicifolia is a stiff, erect shrub which grows to a height of 0.5–3 m (2–10 ft) and has its young foliage and flower buds covered with rust-coloured hairs. The leaves are dull green, leathery and holly-like, mostly glabrous and egg-shaped to lance-shaped or elliptic. They are 6–20 cm (2–8 in) long, 2.5–3.5 cm (0.98–1.4 in) wide, have sharp teeth along their edges and a prominent network of veins.[2][3][4][5]

The flowers are arranged on the ends of the stems in a spike-like panicle or raceme 15–30 cm (6–10 in) long, each flower on a stalk 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long. The flowers are white or cream-coloured, 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and more or less glabrous. Flowering occurs from November to February, usually following fire the previous summer, and is followed about three months later by the fruit which is a dark brown, leathery follicle 15–30 mm (0.6–1 in) long containing about ten winged seeds.[2][3][4][5]

Lomatia ilicifolia after fire in Bunyip State Park in Victoria

Hybrids with L. myricoides, L. silaifolia and L. fraseri occasionally occur where these species grow near L. ilicifolia.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Lomatia ilicifolia was first formally described in 1810 by

Robert Brown from a specimen collected near Port Phillip. The description was published in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.[1]

The specific epithet (ilicifolia) is derived from the Latin words ilex, ilicis meaning "holm-oak, a genus of the holly family"[6]: 417  and folium meaning "leaf".[6]: 340 

Distribution and habitat

Native holly is widespread and locally common in south-eastern

Moss Vale.[2][3][4]

Ecology

Native holly attracts nectar-feeding butterflies.[5]

Use in horticulture

This lomatia is a hardy, slow-growing plant with interesting foliage, well-displayed flowers and attractive fruit. It is frost-tolerant and grows in full sun or partial shade.[5][7]

References

  1. ^ a b "Lomatia ilicifolia". APNI. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Lomatia ilicifolia R.Br". Flora of Australia Online. Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australian Government.
  3. ^ a b c d Harden, Gwen. "Lomatia ilicifolia". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Jeanes, Jeff. "Lomatia ilicifolia". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria: vicflora. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d "Lomatia ilicifolia". Yarra Ranges Shire Council. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  7. ISBN 0002165759
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lomatia_ilicifolia&oldid=1153538328"