Halgania cyanea, commonly known as rough halgania,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Boraginaceae. It is a small perennial shrub with dull green leaves, bright blue flowers and is endemic to Australia.

Rough halgania
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Boraginales
Family: Boraginaceae
Genus: Halgania
Species:
H. cyanea
Binomial name
Halgania cyanea
Halgania cyanea "Allambi-Station"

Description

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Halgania cyanea is a small, usually dense perennial, growing up to 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) high and a spreading habit up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) wide. The dull green leaves are narrow elliptic or linear shaped, 4–20 mm (0.16–0.79 in) long and 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) wide, flattened, glandular hairs on the upper surface, toothed edges and almost sessile. The bright blue or rarely white flowers 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) in diameter, usually singly or up to 3 in a cluster in a terminal inflorescence on a pedicel 2–10 mm (0.079–0.394 in) long, calyx 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long, lobes narrow-triangular or lance-shaped, equal in size. It mostly flowers in summer or sporadically throughout the year. The fruit is a brown drupe containing one or two seed.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

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Halgania cyanea was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley and the description was published in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony.[5][6] The specific epithet (cyanea) means "dark blue".[7]

Distribution and habitat

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Rough halgania occurs in a wide range of situations including sandy loam, sand plains, mallee and sand dunes in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria and the Northern Territory, but is restricted to mallee communities in New South Wales.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ "Halgania cyanea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, Peter G. "Halgania cyanea". PlantNET-NSW. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Halgania cyanea". Australian Native Plant Society (Australia). Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  4. ^ Grieg, Denise (1999). Field Guide to Australian Wildflowers. Sydney: New Holland. p. 64. ISBN 9780994495808.
  5. ^ "Halgania cyanea". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  6. ^ Lindley, John (1840). A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony. London: James Ridgeway. p. x1.
  7. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 176. ISBN 9780958034180.
  8. ^ Stajsic, Val. "Halgania cyanea". VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  9. ^ Spooner, Amanda. "Halgania cyanea". FloraBase-the Western Australian Flora. Western Australian Herbarium (1998–). FloraBase—the Western Australian Flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Retrieved 1 March 2021.