Wahlenbergia queenslandica

Description

Wahlenbergia queenslandica is a small herbaceous plant in the family Campanulaceae native to Western Australia, to New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, and South Australia. The straggling to erect to ascending perennial herb typically grows to a height of 0.3 to 1.0 metre (1 to 3 ft). It blooms between April and September producing blue-purple flowers in WA. However, in the Northern Territory it flowers from February through to December and fruits from February to November, while in NSW it flowers throughout the year. It is similar to W. communis: both have large corollas with long lobes, however W. communis differs in having a strictly alternate leaf arrangement, long hairs on the inner surface of the corolla tube near the base, and obconical (and frequently more elongated) fruit. The species is found on the edges of swamps and creek beds and damp flats in the Kimberley region of Western Australia where it grows in sandy-loam soils. In the Territory it is found on mulga-dominated plains, alluvial plains and intermittent watercourses. Wahlenbergia is a genus of around 260 species of flowering plants in the family Campanulaceae. Plants in this genus are perennial or annual herbs with simple leaves and blue to purple bell-shaped flowers, usually with five petals lobes. Species of Wahlenbergia are found on all continents except North America, and on some isolated islands, but the greatest diversity occurs in the Southern Hemisphere. Plants in the genus Wahlenbergia are annual or perennial herbs, rarely shrubs, and sometimes have rhizomes. The stems are erect, circular in cross section and have simple leaves. The leaves decrease in size up the stem and usually have small scattered teeth on their edges. The flowers are borne on the end of the stems, either singly or arranged in a cyme. There are five sepals that remain until the fruiting stage. The petals are blue to purple and are joined at their base to form a bell-shaped or funnel-shaped tube with five lobes. There are usually five stamens, the style is often branched at the tip and the fruit is a capsule containing up to fifty seeds. The genus is widespread and species of Wahlenbergia are found on all continents except North America. The highest species diversity is in southern temperate countries, particularly Africa and Australasia and species are even found on oceanic islands. Four species are known from the island of Saint Helena, including the now extinct species W. roxburghii.