Goodenia ovata

Goodenia ovata, commonly called the hop goodenia, is a flowering plant endemic to Australia. It grows in all states except Western Australia and the Northern Territory, near the coast as well as in drier inland areas. The plant is usually a fast-growing groundcover, though upright shrubby forms also exist. As a shrub it grows to about 2 m high.[1][2] Goodenia ovata has glossy green ovate (oval) shaped leaves, and yellow flowers. It flowers for most of the year, but especially from October till March.

Hop goodenia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Goodeniaceae
Genus: Goodenia
Species:
G. ovata
Binomial name
Goodenia ovata

Taxonomy

James Edward Smith named the species. The species name ovata refers to the oval leaves.[1]

Description

Goodenia ovata is a shrub that can reach 2 m (7 ft) high, with either an upright or spreading habit. The leaves are oval and slightly sticky, measuring 3–8 cm in length by 1–4 cm across. They have serrated margins and sit on 3 cm long petioles.[2]

Distribution and habitat

Goodenia ovata grows on medium-nutrient clay soils derived from shale, as well as siltstone and sandstone, in areas of good drainage in a partly-shaded location in moist eucalypt forests alongside Themeda australis and under such trees as turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera) or blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis), or in open forest under swamp oak (Casuarina glauca), forest red gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), thin-leaved stringybark (E. eugenioides), or woollybutt (E. longifolia).[3]

Ecology

The flowers are pollinated by insects, including native bees, honeybees, and hoverflies.[3]

The Meadow Argus butterfly is uses Goodenia spp. as a host plant.[4]

Goodenia ovata shrubs are killed by bushfire and regenerate from seed afterwards.[3]

Cultivation

In cultivation, the species prefers a situation in part shade and with some moisture. It copes with a range of soil types and tolerates moderate frost.[5] Fast-growing, it can be used as a "filler" plant in the garden. It is readily propagated by cuttings.[1]

References
  1. Walters, Brian (February 2010). "Goodenia Ovata". Australian Native Plants Society. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  2. Carolin, Roger C. "Goodenia ovata". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  3. Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1997). "Ecology of Sydney plant species:Part 5: Dicotyledon families Flacourtiaceae to Myrsinaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 5 (2): 330–544 [375]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2017-03-07.
  4. "NDIGINOUS BUTTERFLY LARVAL HOST PLANTS, ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA1" (PDF). Australian Native Plants Society.
  5. Greig, D. (1987). The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207154600.
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