Family: Campanulaceae
Wahlenbergia gracilis
Citation:
Schrader, Blumenhachia 38 (1827).
Synonymy: Campanula gracilis Forster f., Prod. Fl. Insul. Aust. Prod. 84 (1786); C. quadrifida R. Br., Fl. Nov. Holl. 561 (1810); W. quadrifida (R. Br.)A. DC., Monogr. Camp. 144 (1830); W. sieberi A. DC., Monogr. Camp. 144 (1830).
Common name: Sprawling (or Australian) bluebell.
Description:
Perennial tufted herbs with a fleshy rootstock: glabrous or the lower parts sparsely hirsute; stems 5-80 cm long, branching below the inflorescence; leaves alternate or sometimes the lowermost opposite, 2-60 cm long, 0.2-10 mm wide, obovate or oblanceolate, becoming linear up the stem, margins flat or undulate.
Inflorescence a terminal cyme; receptacle 1-3 mm long, obconical; sepals 5, sometimes 3 or 4, 1-3 mm long, narrowly triangular, acute; corolla blue, sometimes pink or white, campanulate; tube 1-4.5 mm long, cylindrical; lobes 5, sometimes 3 or 4, 1.5-6 mm long, less than twice as long as the tube, elliptical; stamens 5, sometimes 3 or 4; filaments c. 1 mm long, rhombic, with or without protuberant shoulders; anthers c. 2 mm long; ovary 3-celled or sometimes 2-celled; style 1.5-6.5 mm long, 3-fid or sometimes 2-fid, uncontracted or sometimes contracted about halfway down, with 1-3 glands below each stigmatic cleft or sometimes glands absent.
Capsule 2.5-7 mm long, obconical.
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Image source: fig. 627e in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Lothian (1947) Victorian Nat. 63:232 as W. quadrifida; Galbraith (1977) A field guide to the wildflowers of south-east Australia, pl. 7:8 as W. quadrtfida.
Distribution:
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An uncommon species found in grassy disturbed sites, including lawns and gardens.
S.Aust.: SL. Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. New Guinea; New Caledonia; New Zealand.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: throughout the year.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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