Howittia
{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Howittia trilocularis flower.jpg
| image_caption = Howittia trilocularis
| taxon = Howittia trilocularis
| parent_authority = F.Muell.{{cite web |title=Howittia |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/84441 |publisher=Australian Plant Census |accessdate=20 November 2020}}
| authority = F.Muell.{{cite web |title=Howittia trilocularis |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/84499 |publisher=Australian Plant Census |accessdate=20 November 2020}}
| display_parents = 2
}}
File:Howittia trilocularis foliage.jpg
Howittia is a genus of plant containing the single species, Howittia trilocularis, commonly known as blue howittia,{{cite web |title=Howittia trilocularis |url=http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?form=speciesfacts&name=Howittia_trilocularis |website=eFloraSA-Electronic Flora of South Australia |publisher=State Herbarium of South Australia |accessdate=20 November 2020}} and is endemic to Australia. It is a tall shrub found growing in shaded valleys and on rainforest edges, it has hairy leaves and single, purple flowers.
Description
Howittia trilocularis is a spreading shrub up to {{cvt|3|m}} high with oval to oblong-oval shaped leaves, {{cvt|2.5-12|cm}} long and {{cvt|1.5-8|cm}} wide, margins smooth, scalloped or slightly lobed. The under surface pale, white, yellow or brownish, irregularly covered with rusty or whitish star-shaped hairs, upper surface dark green. The whitish, lavender or deep mauve flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils, on a peduncle {{cvt|3-4|cm}} long and densely covered with long, matted hairs. The flowers have five petals, {{cvt|1-2.5|cm}} long on a pedicels {{cvt|1.5-5|cm}} long and yellow stamens. The calyx lobes are sharply pointed, {{cvt|6-10|mm}} long, rusty coloured with soft, star-shaped hairs. The seed capsule is rounded or indented globular shaped, {{cvt|5-10|mm}} in diameter and covered with soft, silky or star-shaped hairs. Flowering occurs from September to January.{{cite web |title=Howittia trilocularis |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/d1572e24-a1e0-45d0-aa68-33d7ee2a5cf8 |website=VICFLORA-Flora of Victoria |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria}}
Taxonomy
Howittia trilocularis was first formally described in 1855 by Ferdinand von Mueller and the description was published in Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants from the type specimen which was found growing on "bushy declivities around Lake King".{{cite web |title=Howittia trilocularis |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/instance/apni/502670 |publisher=Australian Plant Name Index |access-date=25 November 2020}}{{cite book |last1=von Mueller |first1=Ferdinand |title=Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants |date=1855 |publisher=Goodhugh & Tembath |location=Melbourne |page=38}} The genus was named after Godfrey Howitt, a Melbourne physician, in recognition of his work as an amateur botanist. The specific epithet (trilocularis) means "having three locules.{{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 |page=327 |edition=3rd}}
Distribution
It is found growing in sheltered gullies, rainforest margins and eucalypt forests in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.{{cite book |last1=Fairley |first1=Alan |last2=Moore |first2=Philip |title=Native Plants of the Sydney Region |date=2010 |publisher=Jacana Books |location=Sydney |isbn=9781741755718 |page=88}}
References
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q9005067|from2=Q17580203}}
Category:Flora of New South Wales
Category:Flora of South Australia
Category:Flora of Victoria (state)
Category:Malvales of Australia