Stenanthera conostephioides

Stenanthera conostephioides, commonly known as flame heath,[2] is a species of small shrub that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has linear to lance-shaped leaves, red, tubular flowers and green, oval fruit turning dark red.

Flame heath
In Monarto South, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Stenanthera
Species:
S. conostephioides
Binomial name
Stenanthera conostephioides
Synonyms[1]
  • Astroloma conostephioides (Sond.) F.Muell. ex Benth.
  • Pentataphrus behrii Schltdl.
  • Stenanthera conostephioides Sond. var. conostephioides
  • Stenanthera conostephioides var. glabrata Sond.
  • Stenanthera conostephoides F.Muell. orth. var.
  • Styphelia behrii (Schltdl.) Sleumer
  • Styphelia sonderi F.Muell. nom. illeg.
Habit in Beyeria Conservation Park, Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Description

Stenanthera conostephioides is an erect or spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of 20–100 cm (7.9–39.4 in). The leaves are thick, linear to lance-shaped, 7–21 mm (0.28–0.83 in) long and 0.8–2 mm (0.031–0.079 in) wide, with a pointed tip 1.1–1.5 mm (0.043–0.059 in) long. The flowers are red and occur singly, pendent and tube-like, more or less cylindrical and 6.3–15 mm (0.25–0.59 in) long. There are brownish bracts 0.5–10 mm (0.020–0.394 in) long and bracteoles 6.3–15 mm (0.25–0.59 in) long at the base of the flower, and the sepals are brownish 7.7–18 mm (0.30–0.71 in). The petal lobes are densely hairy on the inside near their tips. The anthers project beyond the end of the petal tube and the style is 10–19 mm (0.39–0.75 in) long. The fruit is oval, about 9–11 mm (0.35–0.43 in) long and green tinged with maroon, later dark red. Flowering occurs from March to November.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Stenanthera conostephioides was first formally described in 1845 by Otto Wilhelm Sonder in Lehmann's Plantae Preissianae from specimens collected by Theodor Siemssen near Port Adelaide in 1839.[5][6][7] The specific epithet (conostephioides) refers to the similarity of this species to a plant in the genus Conostephium.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Flame heath grows in mallee scrub and open forest in sandy soil. It is a common species, occurring in western Victoria and the south east of South Australia.[2][3]

Ecology

The flowers of this species form an important part of the diet of emus.[8]

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References
  1. "Stenanthera conostephioides". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  2. "Stenanthera conostephioides". South Australian Seed Conservation Service. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. Messina, Andre; Stajsic, Val. "Stenanthera conostephioides". Royal Botanic Gardens, Victoria. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. "Astroloma conostephioides". Electronic Flora of South Australia Fact Sheet. State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  5. "Stenanthera conostephioides". APNI. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  6. Lehmann, Johann G.C. (ed.); Sonder, Otto W. (1845). Plantae Preissianae. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. p. 296297. Retrieved 5 March 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  7. "Siemssen, G. Theodor (fl. 1838)". Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  8. Quin, BR. "Diet and Habitat of Emus Dromaius novaehollandiae in the Grampians Ranges, South-western Victoria". Emu. Birds Australia. 96 (2): 114–122. doi:10.1071/MU9960114.
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