Hibbertia stellaris
| Hibbertia stellaris | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| (unranked): | |
| (unranked): | |
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| Order: | unplaced
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| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | H. stellaris
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| Binomial name | |
| Hibbertia stellaris Endl., 1837
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| Synonyms | |
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Hibbertia tenuiramea Steud. | |
Hibbertia stellaris, commonly known as star guinea flower or orange stars, is a brilliantly orange flowering ground cover from South Western Australia botanical province. It naturally grows in swamps. Despite this, it is extremely sensitive to phytophthora and needs to be grown in well drained soil in cultivation.
Description
Hibbertia stellaris grows as a small shrub 30-70 cm high and 30-60 cm across.[1] The stems are often red-tinged. The linear to narrow-spathulate (spoonshaped) lleaves measure 1.5-2.5 cm long and 0.5-2.5 mm across.[2] The orange flowers appear from August to February, with populations from the more northern parts of its range having more yellowish flowers.[1]
Taxonomy
Austrian botanist Stephan Endlicher described Hibbertia stellaris in his 1837 work Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad fluvium Cygnorum et in sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus Liber Baro de Hügel, from a specimen collected near the Swan River.[3] The specific epithet is from the Latin stella "star", and refers to the starry flowers.[1] Meanwhile, German botanist Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel described Hibbertia tenuiramea in the 1845 work Plantae Preissianae, from a specimen collected near Perth.[4]
Distribution and habitat
Found across a wide area of Western Australia, it is not threatened.[5]
Cultivation
Hibbertia stellaris is a highly-regarded horticultural plant on account of its brilliant orange flowers and has been in cultivation for decades, however is generally short-lived in cultivation (to the point where it is most convenient to treat it as an annual). It generally succumbs within 18 months of planting in the ground though live longer in containers such as pots or hanging baskets.[1] It is hardy to moderate frosts.[6]
Plants in full sun (as opposed to part shade) flower more profusely but tend to be shorter-lived.[1]
It is easily propagated by cuttings taken in spring after flowering. It is best grown in an open, acid sandy soil with underlying water (such as in a saucer of water, or better, on a capillary mat).
References
- ^ a b c d e Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1990). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Vol. 5. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Lothian Press. p. 351. ISBN 0-85091-285-7.
- ^ Corrick, Margaret G. ; Fuhrer, Bruce Alexander (2009). Wildflowers of Southern Western Australia. Kenthurst, New South Wales: Rosenberg Pub. p. 48. ISBN 9781877058844.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Endlicher, Stephan (1837). Enumeratio plantarum quas in Novae Hollandiae ora austro-occidentali ad fluvium Cygnorum et in sinu Regis Georgii collegit Carolus Liber Baro de Hügel (in Latin). Vienna: F. Beck. p. 3.
- ^ von Steudel, Ernst Gottlieb (1845). Lehmann, Johann Georg Christian (ed.). Plantae Preissianae sive Enumeratio plantarum quas in Australasia occidentali et meridionali-occidentali annis 1838-1841. Vol. 1. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. p. 268.
- ^ "Hibbertia stellaris". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ Walters, Brian (November 2007). "Hibbertia stellaris". Plant Guides. Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 29 March 2015.
