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 | |
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| Crowea saligna growing in the Royal National Park | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Genus: | Crowea |
| Species: | C. saligna
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| Binomial name | |
| Crowea saligna | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
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 edit
- ^ a b "Crowea saligna". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ a b c Roger, Carolin; Tindale, Mary (1994). Flora of the Sydney region (4th ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Reed. p. 438. ISBN 0730104001.
- ^ a b c Porteners, M.F.; Weston, P.H. "Crowea saligna". Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, plantnet. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ a b c "Crowea saligna". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ "Crowea saligna". APNI. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ Andrews, Henry C. (1800). The Botanists Repository for New and Rare Plants Volume 2. p. 79. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 857.
- ^ 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.