Isopogon anemonifolius
| Isopogon anemonifolius | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| Order: | Proteales |
| Family: | Proteaceae |
| Genus: | Isopogon |
| Species: | I. anemonifolius |
| Binomial name | |
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Isopogon anemonifolius (Salisb.) Knight |
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| Range in New South Wales (in green) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Protea anemonifolia Salisb. |
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Protea anemonifolia Salisb.
Protea tridactylides Cav.
Atylus anemonifolia (Salisb.) Kuntze
Isopogon anemonifolius, commonly known as broad-leaved drumsticks, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae that is found only in eastern New South Wales in Australia. It occurs naturally in woodland, open forest, and heathland on sandstone soils. I. anemonifolius usually ranges between 1 and 1.5 metres (3 1⁄4–5 feet) in height, generally being smaller in exposed heathland. Its leaves are divided and narrow, though broader than those of the related Isopogon anethifolius, and have a purplish tinge during the cooler months. The yellow flowers appear during late spring or early summer and are displayed prominently. They are followed by round grey cones, which give the plant its common name drumsticks. The small hairy seeds are found in the old flower parts.
A long-lived plant reaching an age of up to 60 years, I. anemonifolius resprouts from its woody base, known as a lignotuber, after bushfire. Seedlings appear in the year following a fire. Although I. anemonifolius was collected by Daniel Solander in 1770, it was not described until 1796 by Richard Salisbury. Several varieties have been named, though none are now recognised as distinct. It was first cultivated in the United Kingdom in 1791. I. anemonifolius grows readily in the garden if located in a sunny or part-shaded spot with sandy soil and good drainage.
Isopogon anemonifolius grows as a woody shrub to 1–1.5 m (3 1⁄4–5 ft) in height, but is restricted to around 50 cm (1 3⁄4 ft) on exposed heaths and headlands. The leaves are 5–11 cm (2–4 1⁄4 in) long and fork after 2–5 cm (3⁄4–2 in) into three segments, and then often fork a second time. The leaf tips are pointed. Leaves can vary markedly on single plants, though some leaves are undivided. Leaf surfaces are generally smooth, though occasionally covered with fine hair. Its flat leaves distinguish it from the terete (round in cross section) leaves of Isopogon anethifolius; they are also broader, at 3–5 mm (1⁄8–3⁄16 in) wide compared with the 1 mm ( 1⁄25 in) wide leaves of the latter species. The new growth and leaves of I. anemonifolius may be flushed red to purple in colour, particularly in winter. The globular inflorescences appear any time from July to January, being most abundant in October. They are 3–4 cm (1 1⁄8–1 5⁄8 in) in diameter, and grow terminally at the tips of branches, or occasionally axillary (arising on short stems off branches). The individual flowers are around 1.2 cm (1⁄2 in) long. They are straight stalkless structures arising from a basal scale. The perianth, a tube that envelopes the flower's sexual organs, splits into four segments, revealing a thin delicate style that is tipped with the stigma. At the ends of the four perianth segments are the male pollen-bearing structures known as anthers. Arranged in a spiral pattern, the flowers open from the bottom of the flowerhead inwards. Flowering is followed by the development of the round fruiting cones, which have a diameter of 1–1.6 cm (3⁄8–5⁄8 in). The seed-bearing nuts are small—up to 4 mm (3⁄16 in) across—and lined with hairs.
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