PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Genus Conospermum Family Proteaceae

Description: Shrubs or subshrubs, with few to many branches.

Leaves alternate, often crowded, simple, margins entire, mostly tapering to base, ± sessile.

Inflorescences dense, spike-like, often forming corymbose panicles, usually on a long peduncle; each flower sessile within a persistent sheathing bract. Flowers zygomorphic. Perianth tubular, ± straight, limb unequally 4-lobed, upper lobe usually broad, the 3 lower narrower and spreading. Lower stamen abortive, the 2 lateral stamens imperfect and united at first with the upper perfect stamen; filaments thick. Hypogynous glands absent. Ovary sessile; ovule 1; style filiform, dilated above with a short lateral stigma.

Fruit a small nut, with a flat or concave top, crowned with a ring of long hairs, the sides covered with shorter hairs.


Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 53 spp., endemic Aust., Qld, N.S.W., Vic., Tas., S.A., W.A.

Text by D. Mackay
Taxon concept:

 Key to the species 
1Leaves less than 3 cm long2
Leaves more than 5 cm long4
2Leaves almost terete, less than 1 mm wideConospermum ericifolium
Leaves flat, sometimes twisted, more than 1 mm wide
                       Back to 1
3
3Leaves 1–3 mm wide, usually twistedConospermum taxifolium
Leaves 3–8 mm wide, not twisted
                       Back to 2
Conospermum ellipticum
4Leaves flat; erect or spreading shrubs; apices of tepals divergent at anthesis; perianth cream to white5
Mature leaves more or less terete, channelled above; procumbent shrub; apices of tepals convergent at anthesis; perianth bluish or lilac
                       Back to 1
Conospermum tenuifolium
5Inflorescences many in the upper leaf axils, equal to or shorter than the leaves, peduncles to 10 cm long; perianth limb and perianth tube almost equal in length; leaves 4–10 mm wideConospermum burgessiorum
Inflorescences usually 1–4, subterminal, peduncles 10–40 cm long, mostly much longer than the leaves; perianth limb noticeably shorter than the perianth tube; leaves 1–30 mm wide
                       Back to 4
Conospermum longifolium

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET