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Genus Westringia Family Lamiaceae

Description: Shrubs, branches often 3- or 4-angular.

Leaves whorled with 3–5 leaves per node.

Inflorescence raceme-like on leaf branches; part inflorescences 1-flowered. Calyx 5-lobed. Corolla 5-lobed, distinctly 2-lipped; lower median lobe directed outwards and forward to recurved; lateral lobes spreading; upper median lobe-pair directed outwards. Stamens 2, inserted on upper side of corolla mouth; anthers basifixed, 1-locular; staminodes 2, inserted on lower side of corolla mouth; sterile anther lobes white. Ovary 4-lobed; style terminal; stigma shortly bifid.

Mericarps 4.


Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 25 species, endemic Australia. Australia: all States except N.T.

Text by B. J. Conn
Taxon concept:

Taxa not yet included in identification key
Westringia kydrensis,    Westringia parvifolia,    Westringia viminalis

 Key to the species 
1Bracteoles 3–5.5 mm long2
Bracteoles ± 2 mm long5
2Hairs of branches, petiole and lower leaf surface more or less spreading and tangledWestringia davidii
Hairs appressed and antrorse
                       Back to 1
3
3Leaves elliptic to more or less obovate; lamina 5–8 mm longWestringia species A
Leaves ovate to lanceolate; lamina 16–60 mm long
                       Back to 2
4
4Leaves with apex long-tapering; lamina 20–60 mm long; calyx lobes 0.9–1.4 times length of tubeWestringia blakeana
Leaves with apex obtuse to acute, usually shortly apiculate; lamina 16–25 mm long; calyx lobes 1.6–1.8 times length of tube
                       Back to 3
Westringia amabilis
5Leaves less than 2.5 mm wide6
Leaves ± 2.5 mm wide
                       Back to 1
10
6Leaves with margins strongly revolute, often with only midrib visible7
Leaves with margins more or less flat to recurved, most of lower surface visible
                       Back to 5
9
7Leaves sessile, usually suberect (sometimes spreading to recurved), rigid; shrub intricate or divaricate; calyx lobes usually 0.4–0.5 times length of tubeWestringia rigida
Leaves with petiole 0.3–2 mm long, spreading to recurved; lamina soft; shrub with suberect to spreading branches; calyx lobes 0.3–1.7 times times length of tube
                       Back to 6
8
8Petioles 0.5–0.7 mm long; leaves with both surfaces moderately to densely hairyWestringia eremicola
Petioles 1–2 mm long; leaves with lower surface densely hairy and upper surface glabrous or sparsely hairy
                       Back to 7
Westringia sericea
9Leaves 3–7 mm long, lamina length 2–3.5 times breadth; calyx lobes 0.3–0.4 times length of tube; flowers crowded at end of branchesWestringia cheelii
Leaves 9–35 mm long; lamina length 6–18 times breadth; calyx lobes 0.7–1.2 times length of tube; flowers in upper leaf axils, but never crowded
                       Back to 6
Westringia longifolia
10Leaves with both surfaces glabrous or sparsely to moderately hairy, lower surface never silky11
Leaves with lower surface densely hairy, appearing silky; upper surface usually not as densely hairy or glabrous
                       Back to 5
12
11Leaves with lamina broad-oblong to broad-elliptic or more or less circular; length 1.3–1.8 times breadth; calyx lobes 0.3–0.6 times length of tube; shrub of subalpine areasWestringia lucida
Leaves with lamina lanceolate to narrow-elliptic; length 4–5.1 times breadth; calyx lobes 0.7–1 times length of tube; shrub of steep rocky gorges
                       Back to 10
Westringia glabra
12Leaves mostly in 4-leaved whorls, rarely 3- or 5-leaved; coastal or foreshore shrubWestringia fruticosa
Leaves mostly in 3-leaved whorls, rarely 4- or 5-leaved; shrubs of mountain forests, non-coastal
                       Back to 10
13
13Leaves with lamina length 2.4–4.2 times breadth; lamina 11–23 mm long, slightly revolute; apex acuteWestringia saxatilis
Leaves with lamina length 5–13 times breadth; lamina 20–42 mm long, strongly revolute so that apex tending to appear long-tapering
                       Back to 12
Westringia sericea

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