Isopogon latifolius

Isopogon latifolius grows as a woody shrub with an erect habit to 3 m (10 ft) high. The new growth is covered in fine hairs. The thick narrow leaves are 4–14 cm long and obovate to oval in shape. They are glabrous (smooth) with faint veins and end in a sharp point (apex), Flowering takes place between September and December, the showy pink flower heads, known as inflorescences, appear at the ends of branches above the foliage. They are up to 8 cm in diameter.{{Flora of Australia Online|name=Isopogon latifolius|id=44847}}

The species was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1830, based on material collected by William Baxter at King George's Sound.{{cite book | last=Brown | first=Robert | author-link=Robert Brown (Scottish botanist from Montrose) | title=Supplementum primum Prodromi florae Novae Hollandiae | publisher=Richard Taylor | location=London, United Kingdom | year=1830 | page=8 | url=http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/ing/Libro.php?Libro=1627&Pagina=8}} The specific epithet is derived from the Latin words latus "wide" and folium "leaf". In 1891, German botanist Otto Kuntze published Revisio generum plantarum, his response to what he perceived as a lack of method in existing nomenclatural practice.{{cite web | last=Erickson | first=Robert F. | url=http://www.botanicus.org/creator/298 | title=Kuntze, Otto (1843–1907) | website=Botanicus.org | access-date=28 November 2015}} Because Isopogon was based on Isopogon anemonifolius,{{cite book | author = Knight, Joseph | author-link = Joseph Knight (horticulturist) | year = 1809 | title = On the Cultivation of the Plants Belonging to the Natural Order of Proteeae |url=https://archive.org/details/oncultivationpl00kniggoog | publisher = W. Savage |location= London, United Kingdom |page = [https://archive.org/details/oncultivationpl00kniggoog/page/n118 94]}} and that species had already been placed by Richard Salisbury in the segregate genus Atylus in 1807,{{cite book | last=Hooker | first=William | author-link=William Hooker (botanical illustrator) | title=The Paradisus Londinensis | volume=1 | year=1805 | publisher=D. N. Shury | location=London, United Kingdom | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/36898293}} Kuntze revived the latter genus on the grounds of priority, and made the new combination Atylus latifolius for this species.{{cite book|last=Kuntze|first=Otto|author-link=Otto Kuntze|title=Revisio generum plantarum:vascularium omnium atque cellularium multarum secundum leges nomenclaturae internationales cum enumeratione plantarum exoticarum in itinere mundi collectarum|publisher=A. Felix|location=Leipzig, Germany|year=1891|page=578|url=http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/ing/Libro.php?Libro=5480&Pagina=204|access-date=2015-12-28|archive-date=2015-12-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208064024/http://bibdigital.rjb.csic.es/ing/Libro.php?Libro=5480&Pagina=204|url-status=dead}} However, Kuntze's revisionary program was not accepted by the majority of botanists. Ultimately, the genus Isopogon was nomenclaturally conserved over Atylus by the International Botanical Congress of 1905.{{cite journal | title=Congrès international de Botanique de Vienne | journal=Bulletin de la Société botanique de France | volume=52 | year=1905 | page=LIII | url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/325450}}

Isopogon latifolius is found from Albany and the Stirling Range eastwards to the vicinity of Cheyne Bay. It grows on hilltops and stony outcrops and slopes, in association with sandstone, quartzite and schist.{{FloraBase|name=Isopogon latifolius |id=2231}} It grows in heath, scrub, or low woodland.

This plant is extremely sensitive to dieback from Phytophthora cinnamomi and is at risk of extinction from it in the wild.{{cite journal | title=An extinction-risk assessment tool for flora threatened by Phytophthora cinnamomi |author1=Barrett, Sarah |author2=Shearer B. L. |author3=Crane, C.E. |author4=Cochrane, A. | journal =Australian Journal of Botany | volume=56 | issue=6| pages= 477–86 | url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237956255 | doi=10.1071/BT07213|year=2008 }}

I. latifolius can take over five years to flower from seed, meaning it can be locally eradicated by too-frequent fire intervals.{{cite web | url=http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/82992927-cb18-410a-9c73-e25647e33f00/files/montane.pdf | title=Montane Heath and Thicket of the South West Botanical Province, above approximately 900 m above sea level (Eastern Stirling Range Montane Heath and Thicket Community): Interim Recovery Plan 1999-2002 |date=February 2000 |first=Sarah | last=Barrett | publisher=Department of Conservation and Land Management Western Australian Threatened Species and Communities Unit}}

The showiest of the isopogons, I. latifolius can be grown in regions with low humidity and in positions with good drainage, but will die readily if these conditions cannot be met.{{cite book |author1=Wrigley, John |author2=Fagg, Murray |title=Banksias, Waratahs and Grevilleas |year=1991 |publisher=Angus & Robertson |location=Sydney, New South Wales |isbn=0-207-17277-3 | page=433}} It has been grafted successfully onto Isopogon anethifolius.{{cite journal|last=Cavanagh|first=Tony |title= Isopogon cuneatus vs Isopogon latifolius |journal=Isopogon and Petrophile Study Group| date=2006 |issue=9 |pages=8–9|url=http://anpsa.org.au/iso-petSG/iso-pet9.pdf |issn=1445-9493}} I. latifolius is used in the cut flower industry.

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• {{Commons category-inline|Isopogon latifolius|Isopogon latifolius}}

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Category:Endemic flora of Western Australia

Category:Eudicots of Western Australia

latifolius

Category:Plants described in 1830

Category:Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)