Jacksonia forrestii, commonly known as broom bush,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to the north-west of Australia. It is an erect, slender, weeping shrub or tree with sharply pointed phylloclades, yellow to yellow-orange flowers without markings, and woody, hairy pods.
| Jacksonia forrestii | |
|---|---|
| |
| In Purnululu National Park | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Jacksonia |
| Species: | J. forrestii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Jacksonia forrestii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Description
editJacksonia forrestii is an erect, slender, weeping shrub or tree that typically grows up to 1–5 m (3 ft 3 in – 16 ft 5 in) high and 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) wide, its branches greyish green and ribbed. Its end branches are sharply-pointed phylloclades, its leaves reduced to narrowly egg-shaped to egg-shaped, reddish brown scales, 0.5–1.8 mm (0.020–0.071 in) long and 0.35–1.0 mm (0.014–0.039 in) wide. The flowers are densely arranged near the ends of branches on a straight pedicel 1.3–2.0 mm (0.051–0.079 in) long. There are egg-shaped bracteoles 0.4–0.9 mm (0.016–0.035 in) long and 0.2–0.6 mm (0.0079–0.0236 in) wide on the pedicels. The floral tube is 0.8–1.4 mm (0.031–0.055 in) long and the sepals are membranous, the upper lobes 1.7–2.7 mm (0.067–0.106 in) long and 1.2–1.7 mm (0.047–0.067 in) wide, the lower lobes longer but narrower. The flowers are yellow to yellow-orange without markings, the standard petal 3.6–4.5 mm (0.14–0.18 in) long and 3.6–4.3 mm (0.14–0.17 in) wide, the wings 3.6–3.8 mm (0.14–0.15 in) long, and the keel is 2.8–3.3 mm (0.11–0.13 in) long. The filaments of the stamens are green, 2.0–3.2 mm (0.079–0.126 in) long. Flowering occurs from March to November, and the fruit is a woody, hairy, elliptic pod, 3.0–5.4 mm (0.12–0.21 in) long and 1.4–1.5 mm (0.055–0.059 in) wide.[3][4]
Taxonomy
editJacksonia forrestii was first formally described in 1887 by Ferdinand von Mueller in the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales from specimens collected by Alexander Forrest.[3][5] The specific epithet (forrestii) honours the collector of the type specimens.[6]
Distribution and habitat
editThis species of Jacksonia grows in woodland with a grassy understorey and is widespread in the eastern Kimberley of Western Australia and low-lying areas in the western Northern Territory.[3][4]
Conservation status
editJacksonia forrestii is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions[4] and of "least concern" under the Northern Territory Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Jacksonia forrestii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ a b "Jacksonia forrestii". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Chappill, Jennifer A.; Wilkins, Carolyn F.; Crisp, Michael D. (2007). "Taxonomic revision of Jacksonia (Leguminosae: Mirbelieae)". Australian Systematic Botany. 20 (6): 513–517. doi:10.1071/SB06047.
- ^ a b c "Jacksonia forrestii". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Jacksonia forrestii". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
- ^ George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 201. ISBN 9780958034180.