Persoonia linearis
Encyclopedia
Persoonia linearis, commonly known as the narrow-leaved geebung, is a shrub native to New South Wales
in eastern Australia
.
, from a plant grown from seeds in England. German botanist Otto Kuntze
coined the binomial name Linkia linearis in 1891, from Cavanilles
' original description of the genus description Linkia but the name was eventually rejected in favour of Persoonia. The horticulturist Joseph Knight
described this species as the narrow-leaved persoonia (Persoonia angustifolia) in his controversial 1809 work On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae
, but the binomial name was declared a Nomen illegitimum
as it postdated Andrews' description and name. Common names include narrow-leaved geebung or narrow-leaf geebung. Naam-burra is an aboriginal name from the Illawarra region.
In 1870, George Bentham
published the first infrageneric arrangement of Persoonia
in Volume 5 of his landmark Flora Australiensis
. He divided the genus into three sections, placing P. linearis in P. sect. Amblyanthera. The genus was reviewed by Peter Weston for the Flora of Australia treatment in 1995, and P. linearis was placed in the lanceolata group, a group of 54 closely related species with similar flowers but very different foliage. These species will often interbreed with each other where two members of the group occur, and hybrids with P. chamaepeuce
, P. conjuncta, P. curvifolia, P. lanceolata
, P. media, five subspecies of P. mollis
, P. myrtilloides
subsp. cunninghamii, P. oleoides, P. pinifolia
, and P. sericea. Robert Brown
initially described the hybrid with P. levis as a species "Persoonia lucida", which is now known as Persoonia × lucida, and has been recorded from the southeast forests of the New South Wales south coast.
which sprout new growth after bushfire. The new growth is hairy. The leaves are, as the species name suggests, more or less linear in shape, and measure 2 to 9 cm (0.8-3.6 in) in length, and 0.1 to 0.7 cm wide, with slightly rolled margins. The yellow flowers appear in summer and autumn (December to May).
catchment on the New South Wales mid north coast to the Tambo River in eastern Victoria. It is found in dry sclerophyll forest on both sandstone and clay soils. It grows in sunny to lightly shaded areas in open forest or woodland with a shrubby understory
, associated with such trees as Eucalyptus piperita
, E. sieberi
, E. agglomerata
, E. pilularis
, E. paniculata
, E. rossii
, E. saligna
, E. sparsifolia
and Angophora costata
and shrubs such as Grevillea obtusiflora, G. phylicoides
, Hakea dohertyi, Conospermum longifolium
and Persoonia rigida
.
habitat it grows in. Its thick papery bark shields the underlying epicormic buds
from the flames.
Colletid
bees of the genus Leioproctus
subgenus Cladocerapis exclusively forage on and pollinate flowers of many species of Persoonia. Bees of subgenus Filiglossa in the same genus, that also specialise in feeding on Persoonia flowers, do not appear to be effective pollinators. Weighing 1900 mg, the fruit are adapted to be eaten by vertebrates, such as kangaroo
s, possum
s, and currawong
s and other large birds.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in eastern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Taxonomy
Persoonia linearis was officially described in 1799 by Henry Charles AndrewsHenry Charles Andrews
Henry Charles Andrews , was an English botanist, botanical artist and engraver.He lived in Knightsbridge and was married to the daughter of John Kennedy of Hammersmith, a nurseryman who assisted Andrews in the descriptions of the plants he illustrated.He was an accomplished and unusual botanical...
, from a plant grown from seeds in England. German botanist Otto Kuntze
Otto Kuntze
Otto Carl Ernst Kuntze was a German botanist.-Biography:Otto Kuntze was born in Leipzig.An apothecary in his early career, he published an essay entitled Pocket Fauna of Leipzig. Between 1863 and...
coined the binomial name Linkia linearis in 1891, from Cavanilles
Antonio José Cavanilles
Antonio José Cavanilles was a leading Spanish taxonomic botanist of the 18th century. He named many plants, particularly from Oceania, his name is abbreviated as Cav...
' original description of the genus description Linkia but the name was eventually rejected in favour of Persoonia. The horticulturist Joseph Knight
Joseph Knight (horticulturist)
Joseph Knight , gardener to George Hibbert, was one of the first people in England to successfully propagate Proteaceae...
described this species as the narrow-leaved persoonia (Persoonia angustifolia) in his controversial 1809 work On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae
On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae
On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae is an 1809 paper on the Proteaceae family of flowering plants. Although nominally written by Joseph Knight as a paper on cultivation techniques, all but 13 pages consists of an unattributed taxonomic revision now known to...
, but the binomial name was declared a Nomen illegitimum
Nomen illegitimum
A nomen illegitimum is a technical term, used mainly in botany. It is usually abbreviated as nom. illeg..-Definition:...
as it postdated Andrews' description and name. Common names include narrow-leaved geebung or narrow-leaf geebung. Naam-burra is an aboriginal name from the Illawarra region.
In 1870, George Bentham
George Bentham
George Bentham CMG FRS was an English botanist, characterized by Duane Isely as "the premier systematic botanist of the nineteenth century".- Formative years :...
published the first infrageneric arrangement of Persoonia
Persoonia
Persoonia is a genus of 98 species of shrubs and small trees in the tribe Persoonioideae in the large and diverse plant family Proteaceae. In the eastern states of Australia, they are commonly known as Geebungs, while in Western Australia and South Australia they go by the common name Snottygobbles...
in Volume 5 of his landmark Flora Australiensis
Flora Australiensis
Flora Australiensis: a description of the plants of the Australian Territory, more commonly referred to as Flora Australiensis, and also known by its standard abbreviation Fl. Austral., is a seven-volume flora of Australia published between 1863 and 1878 by George Bentham, with the assistance of...
. He divided the genus into three sections, placing P. linearis in P. sect. Amblyanthera. The genus was reviewed by Peter Weston for the Flora of Australia treatment in 1995, and P. linearis was placed in the lanceolata group, a group of 54 closely related species with similar flowers but very different foliage. These species will often interbreed with each other where two members of the group occur, and hybrids with P. chamaepeuce
Persoonia chamaepeuce
Persoonia chamaepeuce, commonly known as the yellow- or dwarf geebung, is a shrub native to southeastern Australia....
, P. conjuncta, P. curvifolia, P. lanceolata
Persoonia lanceolata
Persoonia lanceolata, commonly known as lance-leaf geebung, is a shrub native to New South Wales in eastern Australia. It reaches in height and has smooth grey bark and bright green foliage...
, P. media, five subspecies of P. mollis
Persoonia mollis
Persoonia mollis is a shrub endemic to New South Wales in eastern Australia. It is one of the many species authored by Robert Brown....
, P. myrtilloides
Persoonia myrtilloides
Persoonia myrtilloides, commonly known as myrtle geebung, is a shrub species that is endemic to New South Wales in Australia. It grows to between in height and has leaves that are between long and wide. Yellow flowers appear between December and April in the species native range.Persoonia...
subsp. cunninghamii, P. oleoides, P. pinifolia
Persoonia pinifolia
Persoonia pinifolia, or Pine-leaved Geebung , is a large shrub which is native to the Sydney region in New South Wales, Australia. It can reach up to 3 metres in both height and width. It has narrow linear leaves to 70 mm long and terminal flower racemes late winter to spring...
, and P. sericea. Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
initially described the hybrid with P. levis as a species "Persoonia lucida", which is now known as Persoonia × lucida, and has been recorded from the southeast forests of the New South Wales south coast.
Description
It grows as a tall shrub to small tree, and can reach 5 m (17 ft) in height. The flaky soft bark is dark grey on the surface, while deeper layers are reddish in colour. Within the bark are epicormic budsEpicormic shoot
An epicormic shoot is a shoot growing from an epicormic bud which lies underneath the bark of a trunk, stem, or branch of a plant.-Epicormic buds:...
which sprout new growth after bushfire. The new growth is hairy. The leaves are, as the species name suggests, more or less linear in shape, and measure 2 to 9 cm (0.8-3.6 in) in length, and 0.1 to 0.7 cm wide, with slightly rolled margins. The yellow flowers appear in summer and autumn (December to May).
Distribution and habitat
One of the most common geebungs, Persoonia linearis is found from the Macleay RiverMacleay River
The Macleay River is a major river on the Mid North Coast , Australia.The headwaters of the Macleay River rise as the Gara River on the eastern side of the Northern Tablelands near Armidale and Walcha, New South Wales. From here the Chandler River, Styx River and Apsley Rivers are important...
catchment on the New South Wales mid north coast to the Tambo River in eastern Victoria. It is found in dry sclerophyll forest on both sandstone and clay soils. It grows in sunny to lightly shaded areas in open forest or woodland with a shrubby understory
Understory
Understory is the term for the area of a forest which grows at the lowest height level below the forest canopy. Plants in the understory consist of a mixture of seedlings and saplings of canopy trees together with understory shrubs and herbs...
, associated with such trees as Eucalyptus piperita
Eucalyptus piperita
Eucalyptus piperita, commonly known as Sydney Peppermint and Urn-fruited Peppermint, is a small to medium forest tree native to New South Wales, Australia.-Description:...
, E. sieberi
Eucalyptus sieberi
Eucalyptus sieberi, the Silvertop Ash or Black Ash is a common eucalyptus tree of south eastern Australia. The range of distribution is in the higher rainfall areas, from near sea level to high altitude...
, E. agglomerata
Eucalyptus agglomerata
Eucalyptus agglomerata, known by the common name Blue leaved Stringybark, is a tree native to eastern Australia. Eucalyptus agglomerata was first described by Joseph Maiden in 1922. Its specific name a Latin adjective for "crowded" and referring to the crowded gumnuts...
, E. pilularis
Eucalyptus pilularis
Eucalyptus pilularis, commonly known as Blackbutt, is a common and dominant tree of the myrtaceae family native to southeastern Australia. A large tree, it is identified by the stocking of rough bark, to about half way up the trunk, above this is white smooth bark. The leaves are a uniform glossy...
, E. paniculata
Eucalyptus paniculata
Eucalyptus paniculata is a common eucalyptus tree of eastern New South Wales, Australia. A dark trunked forest tree with grey furrowed bark. When in flower, the nectar is attractive to birds and insects, and is used in honey production.- Habitat :The natural range of distribution is high rainfall...
, E. rossii
Eucalyptus rossii
Eucalyptus rossii, commonly known as Inland Scribbly Gum, Western Scribbly Gum, Snappy Gum or White Gum, is a smooth-barked eucalypt of eastern Australia....
, E. saligna
Eucalyptus saligna
Eucalyptus saligna, known as the Sydney Blue Gum, is a large Australian hardwood tree common along the New South Wales seaboard and into Queensland, reaching about 65 metres in height...
, E. sparsifolia
Eucalyptus sparsifolia
Eucalyptus sparsifolia, commonly known as the narrow-leaved stringybark, is a tree endemic to New South Wales. It was described by William Blakely in 1934....
and Angophora costata
Angophora costata
Angophora costata is a common woodland and forest tree of Eastern Australia and is known by a variety of names including smooth-barked apple, rose gum, rose apple or Sydney red gum. It grows primarily on sandstone soils, usually on headlands, plateaus or other elevated areas. A...
and shrubs such as Grevillea obtusiflora, G. phylicoides
Grevillea phylicoides
Grevillea phylicoides is a shrub endemic to New South Wales in eastern Australia. It is one of the many species authored by Robert Brown....
, Hakea dohertyi, Conospermum longifolium
Conospermum longifolium
Conospermum longifolium is a shrub of the Proteaceae family native to eastern Australia. Found between Ulladulla, Newcastle, New South Wales and the adjacent ranges. The habitat is drier eucalyptus woodlands or heathland.Three sub-species are recognised:...
and Persoonia rigida
Persoonia rigida
Persoonia rigida, commonly known as the rigid-, hairy- or stiff geebung, is a shrub native to New South Wales and Victoria in eastern Australia. First collected by George Caley in 1804, it was one of the many Australian plants first described by Scottish botanist Robert Brown, and still bears the...
.
Ecology
Persoonia linearis is one of several species of Persoonia which regenerate by resprouting from its trunk or stems greater than 2 cm (0.8 in) thick after bushfire, an adaptation to the fire-proneFire ecology
Fire ecology is concerned with the processes linking the natural incidence of fire in an ecosystem and the ecological effects of this fire. Many ecosystems, such as the North American prairie and chaparral ecosystems, and the South African savanna, have evolved with fire as a natural and necessary...
habitat it grows in. Its thick papery bark shields the underlying epicormic buds
Epicormic shoot
An epicormic shoot is a shoot growing from an epicormic bud which lies underneath the bark of a trunk, stem, or branch of a plant.-Epicormic buds:...
from the flames.
Colletid
Colletidae
Colletidae is a family of bees, and are often referred to collectively as plasterer bees or polyester bees, due to the method of smoothing the walls of their nest cells with secretions applied with their mouthparts; these secretions dry into a cellophane-like lining...
bees of the genus Leioproctus
Leioproctus
Leioproctus is a genus in the plaster bee family Colletidae. Its members are primarily found in Australasia and temperate South America, and include the most common native bees in New Zealand...
subgenus Cladocerapis exclusively forage on and pollinate flowers of many species of Persoonia. Bees of subgenus Filiglossa in the same genus, that also specialise in feeding on Persoonia flowers, do not appear to be effective pollinators. Weighing 1900 mg, the fruit are adapted to be eaten by vertebrates, such as kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
s, possum
Possum
A possum is any of about 70 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi .Possums are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long tails...
s, and currawong
Currawong
Currawongs are three species of medium-sized passerine birds belonging to the genus Strepera in the family Artamidae native to Australasia. These are the Grey Currawong , Pied Currawong , and Black Currawong . The common name comes from the call of the familiar Pied Currawong of eastern Australia...
s and other large birds.