Goodenia benthamiana, commonly known as small-leaf goodenia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an aromatic undershrub with stem-clasping, egg-shaped to elliptic leaves with toothed edges, and yellow flowers arranged singly or in groups of up to three in leaf axils, with leaf-like bracteoles at the base.
| Small-leaf goodenia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Goodenia benthamiana in Greater Bendigo National Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Goodeniaceae |
| Genus: | Goodenia |
| Species: | G. benthamiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Goodenia benthamiana | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Description edit
Goodenia benthamiana is an erect, aromatic undershrub that typically grows to a height of 40 cm (16 in). The leaves are sessile, stem clasping, 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long and 4–20 mm (0.16–0.79 in) wide with toothed edges. The flowers are arranged singly or in groups of up to three in leaf axils on a peduncle 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) long, the individual flowers on a pedicel 0.5–3 mm (0.020–0.118 in) long. There are egg-shaped to lance-shaped bracteoles 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long at the base of the flowers. The sepals are egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) long and the petals are yellow and 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) long. The lower lobes of the corolla are about 4 mm (0.16 in) long with wings about 1.5 mm (0.059 in) wide. Flowering mainly occurs from September to January and the fruit is an oval capsule about 5 mm (0.20 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy and naming edit
Small-leaf goodenia was first formally described in 1868 by George Bentham as Goodenia amplexans var. parvifolia in Flora Australiensis from specimens collected by John Dallachy on Mount Arapiles.[5][6] In 1992, Roger Charles Carolin raised the variety to species status as G. benthamiana in Flora of Australia.[7] The specific epithet (benthamiana) honours George Bentham.[8]
Distribution and habitat edit
Goodenia benthamiana grows in forest, woodland and mallee scrubland in scattered areas of western Victoria and on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.[2][3][4]
References edit
- ^ a b "Goodenia benthamiana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b c Jeanes, Jeff A.; Stajsic, Val. "Goodenia benthamiana". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b Carolin, Roger C. "Goodenia benthamiana". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Goodenia benthamiana". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Goodenia amplexans var. parvifolia". APNI. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ Bentham, George (1868). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 4. London: Lovell Reeve & Co. p. 60. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Goodenia benthamiana". APNI. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 145. ISBN 9780958034180.