Darwinia fascicularis

Darwinia fascicularis is a pleasantly scented small plant up to {{convert|1.5-2.5|m|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} tall. The light green needle-like leaves are small, smooth, almost cylindrical and {{convert|8-16|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. The leaves are crowded, arranged opposite or whorled on spreading branches. The flowers are white on a peduncle {{convert|1|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. The flowers resemble a pin-cushion appearing in clusters of 4-20 flowers at the end of branches turning red as they age. The prominent styles are straight or curved, {{convert|12-18|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and either white or red. The bracts are leaf-like or triangular, dry, translucent and about {{convert|2-14|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. The smaller bracts may be oblong or triangular shaped, {{convert|3-5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and falling off early. The tubular flowers are {{convert|5-7|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1-1.5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} in diameter with rounded ribbing. The sepals are usually toothed and triangular and about half the length of the petals. Flowering occurs from June to September.{{cite web |title=Darwinia fascicularis |url=http://www.friendsoflanecovenationalpark.org.au/Flowering/Flowers/Darwinia_fascicularis.htm |website=Friends of Lance Cove National Park Inc |accessdate=9 April 2019}}{{cite book |last1=Grieg |first1=Denise |title=Field Guide to Australian Wildflowers |date=1999 |publisher=Avery Chase-New Holland |isbn=1-86436-334-7}}{{cite book |last1=Wrigley |first1=John W. |last2=Fagg |first2=Murray |title=Australian Native Plants |date=2001 |publisher=Louise Eggerton-Reed New Holland |isbn=1-876334-30-4}}{{cite book |last1=Adams |first1=George |title=Birdscaping Australian Gardens |date=2011 |publisher=D & G Publishing}}

Darwinia fascicularis was first formally described by Edward Rudge in 1816 and published in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.{{cite web|title=Darwinia fascicularis|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/496072|publisher=APNI|accessdate=7 February 2020}} The specific epithet (fascicularis) means "resembling a small bundle".{{cite book |last1=Sharr |first1=Francis Aubi |last2=George |first2=Alex |title=Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings |date=2019 |publisher=Four Gables Press |location=Kardinya, WA |isbn=9780958034180 |edition=3rd}}{{rp|197}}{{cite web |title=Darwinia fascicularis |url=http://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/gnp11/darwinia-fascicularis.html |website=ANBG |publisher=Australian Government |accessdate=9 April 2019}}

Two subspecies are recognised by the Australian Plant Census.

• Darwinia fascicularis subsp. oligantha was first formally described in 1962 by Barbara Briggs and published in Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium.{{cite web |title=Darwinia fascicularis subsp. oligantha |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/80291|website=Australian Plant Census |accessdate=7 February 2020}} This species usually has only 4 flowers, rarely 2 or 6 and only appearing in pairs. A small shrub growing to about {{convert|30|cm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} high with branches often growing horizontally along the ground and upturned at the tip. The branches will take root when in contact with the soil. Leaves are less crowded and a darker green. It grows at higher altitudes in the Blue Mountains to Wentworth Falls in New South Wales in heath or on shallow sandstone soils.{{cite web |title=Darwinia fascicularis |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Darwinia~fascicularis |website=NSW PlantNet Flora Online |publisher=National Herbarium of NSW |accessdate=10 April 2019}} The epithet (oligantha) means "few-flowered", referring to the small number of flowers in each inflorescence.{{rp|265}}
• Darwinia fascicularis subsp. fascicularis{{cite web |title=Darwinia fascicularis subsp. fascicularis |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/80279|website=Australian Plant Census |accessdate=7 February 2020}} (the autonym) is an erect shrub to {{convert|2|m|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} high and has flowers of 4-20 in a tight cluster. The branches do not take root when in contact with the soil. It grows from Gosford in the Central Coast to Bulli near Wollongong within {{convert|30|km|mi|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} of the coast. Grows in exposed situations on the edge of sandstone ridges, mostly in heathland or dry sclerophyll scrub below {{convert|500|m|ft|sigfig=2|abbr=on}}.

Darwinia fascicularis grows from as far north as Gosford in the Central Coast to Bulli near Wollongong. The habitat is poor sandy soils, in dry eucalyptus forest or heathlands in high rainfall areas.

Darwinia fascicularis is a hardy species, for an open sunny situation in well-drained soil. Several native birds are attracted to this species of Darwinia as a source of nectar they include the New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), tawny-crowned honeyeater (Gliciphila melanops) and eastern spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris). This genus believed to be predominantly pollinated by birds.{{cite journal |last1=Hugh |first1=A.Ford |last2=Paton |first2=David C. |last3=Forde |first3=Neville |title=Darwinia species |journal=New Zealand Journal of Botany |date=2012 |volume=17:4 |doi=10.1080/0028825X.1979.10432566 |doi-access=free }}

{{Reflist|refs=

Rudge, E. (1816) A Description of several new Species of Plants from New Holland. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 11: 299, t. 22.

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fascicularis

Category:Flora of New South Wales

Category:Plants described in 1816

Category:Taxa named by Edward Rudge