Persoonia longifolia

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Upright Snottygobble
P. longifolia, Nannup, Western Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
Order: Proteales
Family: Proteaceae
Genus: Persoonia
Species: P. longifolia
Binomial name
Persoonia longifolia
R.Br.

The Upright Snottygobble (Persoonia longifolia), also known as the Long-leaf Persoonia or just Snottygobble, is a species of tall shrub or small tree in the plant genus Persoonia, reaching 1 to 5 metres (3–17 ft) in height. It is found in the Jarrah forests of southwest Western Australia. This species is characterised by its long narrow dark green leaves, dark yellow to orange flowers and distinctive dark flaky red bark.

Description

A section of trunk, showing the flaky red bark

This erect shrub or tree reaches about 5 metres (17 feet) high, usually with few branches. Its dark green leaves are narrow and slightly elliptical, and can grow up to 220 millimetres in length. The distinctive bark is dark red to bronze colour with many papery layers which flake easily. Within the bark are epicormic buds which sprout new growth after bushfire.[1]

Snottygobbles flower over the summer months, with dark yellow to orange flowers that occur in short sprays. The individual flowers are 12 to 14mm in length with orange to brown hairs. The flowers split into four narrow segments which curl back to reveal the stamen. The fruit are green initially, but change to a yellow-green colour a few days after falling.

Taxonomy

It was first collected by botanist Robert Brown around 1801. The species name derived from the Latin terms longus "long", and folium "leaf".[2] Within the genus Persoonia, it is classified 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.[1]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in the southwest of Western Australia from Albany to the southeastern edges of Perth. It occurs in the Jarrah, Karri, Marri and Tingle forest.

Ecology

Snottygobble is pollinated by native bees. it is also visited by the Western Brown Butterfly (Heteronympha merope duboulayi).

Cultivation

Like all members of the genus Persoonia, difficulties in propagation are a considerable barrier to potential cultivation of the plant. Seed will either not germinate or only germinate after a prolonged period of a year or more.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Weston, Peter H. (2003). "Proteaceae subfamily Persoonioideae". Australian Plants 22 (175): 62–78. 
  2. ↑ Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. ISBN 0-304-52257-0. 
  • Discovering The Hills Forest. Part of an Environmental Education Program on the Western Australian Jarrah Forest for Year 6 and 7 students. Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). p 44.
  • Wheeler, Judy (2003). Common Trees of the South-West Forests. Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). ISBN 0-7309-6961-4. 
  • Powell, Robert (1990). Leaf and Branch: Trees and Tall Shrubs of Perth. Perth, Western Australia: Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). ISBN 0-7309-3916-2. 

External links

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