Petrophile

{{Short description|Genus of shrubs in the family Proteaceae}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|name = Conebushes

|image = Petrophile macrostachya-2.JPG

|image_caption = Petrophile macrostachya

|display_parents = 2

|taxon = Petrophile

|authority = R.Br. ex Knight{{cite web|title=Petrophile|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/103151|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=29 November 2020}}

|type_species = Petrophile pulchella

|subdivision_ranks = Species

|subdivision = See text

|synonyms_ref =

|synonyms =

  • Arthrostygma Steud. nom. inval., pro syn.
  • Atylus Salisb. nom. rej.
  • Petrophila R.Br. orth. var.
  • Petrophylla Cels orth. var.

}}

Petrophile is a genus of evergreen shrubs, in the family Proteaceae. The genus is endemic to Australia. Commonly known as conebushes,{{FloraBase|name=Petrophile|id=22382}} they typically have prickly, divided foliage and produce prominently-displayed pink, yellow or cream flowers followed by grey, conical fruits.{{cite book|author=Wrigley J.W. and Fagg M.|year=1979|title=Australian Native Plants|publisher=William Collins Publishers Sydney, Australia|isbn=0-00-216416-7}}

Taxonomy

The genus Petrophile was first formally described in 1809 by Joseph Knight in On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae, preempting publication of the same name by Robert Brown in his book On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae.{{cite web|title=Petrophile|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/531562|publisher=APNI|access-date=7 December 2020}}{{cite book |last1=Knight |first1=Joseph |title=On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae |date=1809 |publisher=William Savage |location=London |pages=92–93 |url=https://archive.org/details/oncultivationpl00kniggoog/page/n115/mode/2up |access-date=14 November 2020}}

The name Petrophile is derived from the Greek words petra = rock and philos = seeking or preferring, referring to the rocky habitat in which some species grow.{{cite web|title=Petrophile pulchella|url=http://anpsa.org.au/p-ses.html|website=anpsa.org.au|access-date=11 January 2015}}

==Species list==

The following is a list of Petrophile species and subspecies accepted by the Australian Plant Census as at November 2020:{{cite web |title=Petrophile |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/search?product=APC&tree.id=51209179&name=Petrophile&inc._scientific=&inc.scientific=on&inc._cultivar=&max=1000&display=apc&search=true |publisher=Australian Plant Census |access-date=21 November 2020}}

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Distribution

Species within this genus predominantly occur in Western Australia, but several species are found in other states including South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.{{cite web |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Petrophile |title= Petrophile |access-date=2007-07-25 |work= PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online }}

Use in horticulture

Plants in this genus, particularly those from Western Australia, require a freely draining soil. They tolerate periods of dryness and mild frosts and will grow well in full sun or part shade. They can be propagated from cuttings taken in autumn or from seed, however the production of new plants by either method can be slow.{{cite book|author=Greig, D.| title=The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue| publisher=Angus & Robertson|location= Australia | year=1987 | isbn=0207154600}}

References