Persoonia myrtilloides
Encyclopedia
Persoonia myrtilloides, commonly known as myrtle geebung, is a shrub species that is endemic to New South Wales
in Australia. It grows to between 0.5 and 2.5 m (1.6 and 8.2 ft) in height and has leaves that are between 12 and 50 mm (0.47244094488189 and 2 in) long and 4 to 30 mm (0.15748031496063 to 1.2 in) wide. Yellow flowers appear between December and April in the species native range.
Persoonia myrtilloides was first formally described in 1827. Two subspecies are currently recognised, distinguished by the shape of leaves and tepals:
Hybrids with P. acerosa
, P. levis
and P. recedens have been reported where the parent species both occur.
The species occurs in the Blue Mountains from Wentworth Falls northwards to Capertee. Subspecies cunninghamii is found in the Wollemi National Park
and the catchment of the Cudgegong River
.
Both subspecies are understory
plants in open forests on sandstone-based soils. Subspecies myrtilloides is associated with trees such as sydney peppermint (Eucalyptus piperita
), narrow-leaved peppermint (E. radiata
) and silvertop ash (E. sieberi
), and a shrubby
understory of old man banksia (Banksia serrata
), Phyllota squarrosa
, paperbark teatree (Leptospermum trinervium
) and mountain devil (Lambertia formosa
). It is also found in heath
. Subspecies cunninghamii is associated with the trees scribbly gum species Eucalyptus rossii
and E. sclerophylla
, rough-barked apple (Angophora floribunda
), Callitris
species, and mallees such as Eucalyptus multicaulis
and narrow-leaved mountain mallee (E. apiculata
).
Currawongs and possibly kangaroos and possums are thought to eat the fruit, the seeds of which are then scattered in droppings. Insects recorded foraging at flowers of subpsecies myrtilloides include members of the genera Exoneura, Hylaeus
and Odyneurus, Homalictus holochorus, colletid
bees of the genus Leioproctus
subgenus Cladocerapis, including Leioproctus carinatifrons
, L. raymenti, L. speculiferus and Trigona carbonaria
.
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 Australia. It grows to between 0.5 and 2.5 m (1.6 and 8.2 ft) in height and has leaves that are between 12 and 50 mm (0.47244094488189 and 2 in) long and 4 to 30 mm (0.15748031496063 to 1.2 in) wide. Yellow flowers appear between December and April in the species native range.
Persoonia myrtilloides was first formally described in 1827. Two subspecies are currently recognised, distinguished by the shape of leaves and tepals:
- P. myrtilloides subsp. cunninghamii (R.Br.) L.A.S.Johnson & P.H.Weston which has broader leaves and reflexed tepal tips.
- P. myrtilloides Sieber ex Schult. & Schult.f. subsp. myrtilloides which has narrower leaves and recurved tepal tips.
Hybrids with P. acerosa
Persoonia acerosa
Persoonia acerosa is a shrub native to New South Wales in eastern Australia....
, P. levis
Persoonia levis
Persoonia levis, commonly known as the broad-leaved geebung, is a shrub native to New South Wales and Victoria in eastern Australia. It reaches 5 m in height and has dark grey papery bark and bright green asymmetrical sickle-shaped leaves up to 14 cm long and 8 cm wide...
and P. recedens have been reported where the parent species both occur.
The species occurs in the Blue Mountains from Wentworth Falls northwards to Capertee. Subspecies cunninghamii is found in the Wollemi National Park
Wollemi National Park
Wollemi National Park is the second largest national park in New South Wales, and contains most of the largest wilderness area, the Wollemi Wilderness...
and the catchment of the Cudgegong River
Cudgegong River
The Cudgegong River is a tributary of the Macquarie River in New South Wales. It rises near Rylstone and flows generally north-west past Mudgee it flows past the edge of Gulgong and then into Lake Burrendong which is created by Burrendong Dam on the Macquarie River. Windamere Dam on the Cudgegong...
.
Both subspecies are 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...
plants in open forests on sandstone-based soils. Subspecies myrtilloides is associated with trees such as sydney peppermint (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:...
), narrow-leaved peppermint (E. radiata
Eucalyptus radiata
Eucalyptus radiata is a medium to tall tree to 30 m high with persistent bark on the trunk and larger branches or persistent to smaller branches. The bark shortly fibrous , grey to grey-brown, shedding in long ribbons...
) and silvertop ash (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...
), and a shrubby
understory of old man banksia (Banksia serrata
Banksia serrata
Banksia serrata, commonly known as Old Man Banksia, Saw Banksia, Saw-tooth Banksia and Red Honeysuckle, is a species of woody shrub or tree of the genus Banksia in the Proteaceae family. Native the east coast of Australia, it is found from Queensland through to Victoria with outlying populations on...
), Phyllota squarrosa
Phyllota squarrosa
Phyllota squarrosa, commonly known as the dense phyllota, is a species of flowering plant in the pea family from eastern Australia. It was given its current name by George Bentham in 1837....
, paperbark teatree (Leptospermum trinervium
Leptospermum trinervium
Leptospermum trinervium is a shrub, commonly called the Paperbark Teatree, which is endemic to Australia....
) and mountain devil (Lambertia formosa
Lambertia formosa
Lambertia formosa, commonly known as Mountain Devil, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae endemic to New South Wales, Australia. First described by English botanist James Edward Smith in 1798, its specific name formosa is the Latin adjective for 'handsome'. No subspecies are recognised...
). It is also found in heath
Heath
-Habitats:* Heath or heathland, low-growing woody vegetation, mostly consisting of heathers and related species* Heaths in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
. Subspecies cunninghamii is associated with the trees scribbly gum species Eucalyptus 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....
and E. sclerophylla
Eucalyptus sclerophylla
Eucalyptus sclerophylla, known as the Scribbly Gum, is a tree native to eastern Australia. Very similar to the related Scribbly Gum , a better known tree. The best way of distinguishing the species is the smaller hemispherical to pear shaped gumnuts of Eucalyptus sclerophylla, being 0.6 cm by...
, rough-barked apple (Angophora floribunda
Angophora floribunda
Angophora floribunda is a common woodland and forest tree of Eastern Australia and is known by a variety of names including Rough-barked apple, Apple box, Rusty gum, and Boondah....
), Callitris
Callitris
Callitris is a genus of coniferous trees in the Cupressaceae . There are 15 species in the genus, of which 13 are native to Australia and the other two native to New Caledonia. Traditionally the most widely used common name is cypress-pine, a name shared by the closely related genus Actinostrobus...
species, and mallees such as Eucalyptus multicaulis
Eucalyptus multicaulis
Eucalyptus multicaulis, the Whip Stick Mallee Ash is a eucalyptus of eastern Australia. It grows in eastern central New South Wales, sometimes in high rainfall areas. The Whip Stick Mallee Ash is a mallee, growing to eight metres tall. Bark is smooth, grey or white, shedding in long strips....
and narrow-leaved mountain mallee (E. apiculata
Eucalyptus apiculata
Eucalyptus apiculata, commonly known as the narrow-leaved mountain mallee, is a species of eucalypt native to eastern Australia....
).
Currawongs and possibly kangaroos and possums are thought to eat the fruit, the seeds of which are then scattered in droppings. Insects recorded foraging at flowers of subpsecies myrtilloides include members of the genera Exoneura, Hylaeus
Hylaeus
Hylaeus can refer to:*Hylaeus and Rhaecus*Hylaeus, a genus of bees...
and Odyneurus, Homalictus holochorus, 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, including Leioproctus carinatifrons
Leioproctus carinatifrons
Leioproctus carinatifrons is a species of Australian bee. It is found in coastal regions of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, and feeds on the nectar of various species of Persoonia. It was first described in 1929 by T. D. A. Cockerell as Paracolletes carinatifrons. Males are around ...
, L. raymenti, L. speculiferus and Trigona carbonaria
Trigona carbonaria
Trigona carbonaria is a stingless bee endemic to Australia. Their common name is Sugarbag bee. The bee is known to pollinate the orchids Dendrobium lichenastrum, D. toressae, and D. speciosum. It has been identified as an insect that collects pollen from the cycad, Cycas media.T. carbonaria forms...
.