Leucopogon virgatus (Labill.) R.Br. APNI* Synonyms: Choristemon humilis H.B.Will. APNI*
Description: Slender shrub, 35–45 cm high; branchlets pubescent.
Leaves ovate, 3–22 mm long, 0.9–3.3 mm wide; margins entire or sparsely toothed; lamina glabrous, concolorous, upper surface concave, lower surface with 3 central ± parallel veins; petiole to 1 mm long.
Flowers erect, 4–7 together in 5–10 mm long spikes, white; bracteoles 1–2 mm long. Sepals 1.9–2.9 mm long. Corolla tube 1.6–2.2 mm long, villous inside near throat; lobes 2–2.5 mm long.
Fruit oblong, c. 2.3 mm long, ± angled, glabrous.
Flowering: July–December
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in heath and woodland on sandy soil; widespread on the coast and ranges.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. S.A.
Text by J. M. Powell, except for groups with contributors listed
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 3 (1992)
ECOLOGY
Life History
Flowers White, in spikes, July--December, peak September--October.
Fruit/seed Succulent fruit (drupe), 2.3 mm long, mature October--November.
Fire response Resprouts from ground level or below (Benson 1981, Fox 1988). No seedlings recorded within 1 year after fire (Purdie 1977).
Habitat
Habitat Ridges, hillsides, sand dunes.
Altitude 0--1000 m
Annual rainfall 700--1200 m
Typical local abundance Frequent--occasional.
Vegetation Woodland e.g. with Angophora floribunda, A. bakeri, Eucalyptus sclerophylla, E. parramattensis, Banksia serrata, Eucalyptus rossii, E. dalrympleana, E. dives; heath e.g. with Brachyloma daphnoides, Acacia suaveolens, Leptospermum laevigatum, Acacia sophorae, Philotheca salsolifolia.
Substrate Sandy soil from sandstone, slates, Devonian metasediments, dune sand, very low nutrients.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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