Seringia hookeriana is a species of flowering plant in the mallow family and is endemic to Queenland. It is a compact suckering shrub with rusty-hairy new growth, oblong leaves and deep purple flowers arranged in groups of 2 to 4.
| Seringia hookeriana | |
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| In the Australian National Botanic Gardens | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Malvales |
| Family: | Malvaceae |
| Genus: | Seringia |
| Species: | S. hookeriana
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| Binomial name | |
| Seringia hookeriana | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description edit
Seringia hookeriana is a compact, suckering shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.5–2 m (1 ft 8 in – 6 ft 7 in) and 0.5–1 m (1 ft 8 in – 3 ft 3 in) wide, its new growth densely covered with rust-coloured hairs. The leaves are oblong to lance-shaped, 15–65 mm (0.59–2.56 in) long and 5–18 mm (0.20–0.71 in) wide on a petiole 2–8 mm (0.079–0.315 in) long with narrow stipules up to 6 mm (0.24 in) long at the base. The flowers are arranged in groups of 2 to 4 flowers on a linear peduncle 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long, each flower on 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) in diameter on a pedicel 3–9 mm (0.12–0.35 in) long. The flowers are deep purple, with broadly-lobed sepals tapering to a sharp point. The petals are absent or tiny, and the anthers are held on yellow filaments alternating with the staminodes. Flowering occurs in most months, and the fruit is a bristly capsule up to 20 mm (0.79 in) in diameter.[2]
Taxonomy edit
This species was first formally described in 1851 by Wilhelm Gerhard Walpers who gave it the name Keraudrenia hookeriana in his Annales Botanices Systematicae.[3][4] In 1860, Ferdinand von Mueller transferred the species to Seringia as S. hookeriana in his Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.[5][6] The specific epithet (hookeriana) honours Joseph Dalton Hooker.[2]
Distribution and habitat edit
This species grows as an understorey shrub in rocky hills and ranges in central Queensland, from near Ingham to Gungal in New South Wales.[2]
Conservation status edit
Seringia hookeriana is listed as of "least concern" in Queensland by the Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science.[7]
References edit
- ^ a b "Seringia hookeriana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c Blake, Trevor L. (2021). Lantern Bushes of Australia; Thomasias & Allied Genera. Australia: A.P.S. Keiler Plains Inc. pp. 412–413. ISBN 9780646839301.
- ^ "Keraudrenia hookeriana". APNI. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ Walpers, Wilhelm G. (1851). Annales botanices systematicae. Leipzig: Sumtibus F. Hofmeister. p. 164. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Seringia hookeriana". APNI. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1860). Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. p. 5. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Seringia hookeriana". Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 19 January 2024.