Gossypium sturtianum

Gossypium sturtianum, or Sturt's desert rose, is a woody shrub, closely related to cultivated cotton, found in most mainland states of Australia and the Northern Territory. It is also known as the Darling River rose, cotton rosebush and Australian cotton.

Sturt's Desert Rose
Rare  (NCA)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Gossypium
Species:
G. sturtianum
Binomial name
Gossypium sturtianum
Synonyms[1]
  • Cienfuegosia gossypioides (R.Br.) Hochr.
  • Gossypium australiense Tod.
  • Gossypium gossypioides (R.Br.) C.A.Gardner nom. illeg.
  • Gossypium nandewarense Derera
  • Gossypium sturtii F.Muell. nom. illeg.
"Gossypium sturtii" by
Ebenezer Edward Gostelow (1867–1944)

The plant has a life span of about 10 years, growing from 1–2 m tall and 1–2 m wide. The colour of the petals can range from pale pink to dark purple to maroon. The five petals are arranged in a whorl and have a dark red centre. They can be seen for most of the year but peak in late winter. They are up to 12 cm in diameter. The leaves are different shades of green, round and strongly scented when crushed.

Taxonomy

Two varieties are often recognized.[2]

G. sturtianum var. trilobum (F.Muell.) J.H.Willis is sometimes considered a synonym of Gossypium robinsonii.[2]

Ecology

The Sturt's desert rose is found in sandy and gravelly soils, along dry creek beds, watercourses, gorges and rocky slopes. Adaptations for this plant include:

  • There are fewer stomata (the pores that release gas in the leaves) or they are protected. The stomata on the Sturt's desert rose are found on the underside of the leaf. This means reduced water loss.
  • They have internal water storage.
  • Deep root systems. They are able to reach the water deep under the ground.

Sturt's desert rose contains gossypol, a chemical toxic to animals other than ruminants.

The first European to see the flower was Charles Sturt in 1844–45, after whom it is named. In 1947, James Hamlyn Willis gave the shrub its current botanical name. It is not considered to be at risk in the wild. It is the floral emblem of the Northern Territory and appears in stylised form on the official flag with seven rather than five petals.[3]

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References
  1. "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  2. "Australian Plant Names Index". Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  3. Sturt's Desert Rose – Floral Emblem of the Northern Territory
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