Regelia velutina

Regelia velutina, the Barrens regelia,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a large shrub with greyish green, velvety leaves and large clusters of brilliant red to orange flowers on the ends of its branches in spring and summer.

Regelia velutina
Regelia velutina in the Peter Francis Points Arboretum, Coleraine, Victoria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Regelia
Species:
R. velutina
Binomial name
Regelia velutina
Synonyms

Melaleuca velutina (Turcz.) Craven & R.D.Edwards

Description

Regelia velutina is a large shrub, sometimes a small tree growing to a height of 6 m (20 ft), with long, straight stems. Its leaves, which are up to 13 mm (0.51 in) long are arranged in alternating pairs (decussate) so that they make four rows along the stems.[2][3]

The flowers are reddish-orange, sometimes yellow, and arranged in almost spherical heads on the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. There are 5 sepals, 5 petals and 5 bundles of stamens in each flower. Flowering occurs from September to November, sometimes to February and is followed by fruit which are woody capsules.[2][3]

R. velutina growing near East Mount Barren

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first formally described by Russian botanist, Nikolai Turczaninow in 1852 who named it Beaufortia velutina.[4] In 1964, the Australian botanist Charles Austin Gardner transferred it to the genus Regelia.[1] The specific epithet is derived from the Neo-Latin velutinus, meaning "velvety".[5]

Distribution and habitat

Regelia velutina grows in sandy soil in rocky areas in the Avon Wheatbelt and Esperance Plains biogeographic regions.[2][6]

It is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife.[2]

Use in horticulture

Although it has attractive foliage and flowers, R. velutina is not common in cultivation. It does not grow well in areas of high summer rainfall and humidity. In drier climates it prefers well drained soils. It is easy to propagate from seed but the leaves may rot if mist propagation systems are used.[3] Its commercial potential for export as a Christmas flower has been assessed.[7]

References
  1. "Regelia velutina". APNI. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  2. "Regelia velutina". FloraBase. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  3. "Regelia velutina". Australian Native Plants Society Australia. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  4. "Beaufortia velutina". APNI. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 831.
  6. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora: a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 401. ISBN 0646402439.
  7. Seaton, Kevin (2013). Development of intergeneric rootstocks for christmas flowering verticordia a new christmas flower. Barton, A.C.T.: RIRDC. pp. 1–21. ISBN 978-1-74254-452-6.
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