Lambertia formosa
Encyclopedia
Lambertia formosa, commonly known as Mountain Devil, is a shrub
of the family Proteaceae
endemic
to New South Wales
, Australia
. First described by English botanist James Edward Smith
in 1798, its specific name formosa is the Latin
adjective for 'handsome'. No subspecies are recognised. It is one of 11 species of the genus Lambertia
within the family Proteaceae
, and the only one found in eastern Australia as the others are all restricted to southwest Western Australia. Common name
s include mountain devil and honey flower, the former from the fruit's resemblance to a devil's head.
Lambertia formosa grows as a spreading shrub to 2 m (7 ft) tall, with one or more stems arising from a woody base known as a lignotuber
. The new growth is covered with a fine brownish hair. The stiff leaves are arranged in whorls of 3, or sometimes up to 4 to 6, on the stems, and are linear to narrow-oblanceolate in shape. Measuring anywhere from 1 to 8 cm (0.4–3 in) in length and 0.2-0.7 cm wide, they have a pointed tip or apex. Flowers are seen at any time of year, but more often over spring and summer (September to January). The inflorescences are made up of seven smaller individual flowers, known as florets, and can be shades of red or pink in colour. The perianths are 4.5 cm (1.6 in) long, with the styles protruding another 1-1.5 cm (0.5 in) beyond. Flowering is followed by the development of (2 cm - 3 cm x 1 cm - 2 cm) fruit which have two (1 cm - 1.5 cm) sharp horny protuberances, and a 0.5 cm 'beak', initially pale green in colour before fading to a grey-brown.
Endemic to New South Wales, Lambertia formosa is found in on or east of the Great Dividing Range
from the vicinity of Braidwood north to Port Stephens, as well as some parts of Northern New South Wales around Grafton and between Red Rock and Yamba. Predominantly found on sandy or rocky soils, it grows in heathland, mallee shrubland and dry sclerophyll forest.
Lambertia formosa regenerates after bushfire by resprouting from its woody lignotuber. Flowering peaks two or three years after a fire. The flowers are pollinated by honeyeaters, which perch as they consume the nectar.
Lambertia formosa is readily grown in a home garden given a sunny position and fair drainage. It is bird attracting.
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
of the family Proteaceae
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. First described by English botanist James Edward Smith
James Edward Smith
Sir James Edward Smith was an English botanist and founder of the Linnean Society.Smith was born in Norwich in 1759, the son of a wealthy wool merchant. He displayed a precocious interest in the natural world...
in 1798, its specific name formosa is the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
adjective for 'handsome'. No subspecies are recognised. It is one of 11 species of the genus Lambertia
Lambertia
Lambertia is a genus of flowering plants, belonging to the family Proteacea. It is endemic to Australia.The genus was named in 1798 by Sir James Edward Smith in honour of English botanist Aylmer Bourke Lambert....
within the family Proteaceae
Proteaceae
Proteaceae is a family of flowering plants distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises about 80 genera with about 1600 species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae they make up the order Proteales. Well known genera include Protea, Banksia, Embothrium, Grevillea,...
, and the only one found in eastern Australia as the others are all restricted to southwest Western Australia. Common name
Common name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
s include mountain devil and honey flower, the former from the fruit's resemblance to a devil's head.
Lambertia formosa grows as a spreading shrub to 2 m (7 ft) tall, with one or more stems arising from a woody base known as a lignotuber
Lignotuber
A lignotuber is a starchy swelling of the root crown possessed by some plants as a protection against destruction of the plant stem by fire. The crown contains buds from which new stems may sprout, and a sufficient store of nutrients to support a period of growth in the absence of...
. The new growth is covered with a fine brownish hair. The stiff leaves are arranged in whorls of 3, or sometimes up to 4 to 6, on the stems, and are linear to narrow-oblanceolate in shape. Measuring anywhere from 1 to 8 cm (0.4–3 in) in length and 0.2-0.7 cm wide, they have a pointed tip or apex. Flowers are seen at any time of year, but more often over spring and summer (September to January). The inflorescences are made up of seven smaller individual flowers, known as florets, and can be shades of red or pink in colour. The perianths are 4.5 cm (1.6 in) long, with the styles protruding another 1-1.5 cm (0.5 in) beyond. Flowering is followed by the development of (2 cm - 3 cm x 1 cm - 2 cm) fruit which have two (1 cm - 1.5 cm) sharp horny protuberances, and a 0.5 cm 'beak', initially pale green in colour before fading to a grey-brown.
Endemic to New South Wales, Lambertia formosa is found in on or east of the Great Dividing Range
Great Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, or the Eastern Highlands, is Australia's most substantial mountain range and the third longest in the world. The range stretches more than 3,500 km from Dauan Island off the northeastern tip of Queensland, running the entire length of the eastern coastline through...
from the vicinity of Braidwood north to Port Stephens, as well as some parts of Northern New South Wales around Grafton and between Red Rock and Yamba. Predominantly found on sandy or rocky soils, it grows in heathland, mallee shrubland and dry sclerophyll forest.
Lambertia formosa regenerates after bushfire by resprouting from its woody lignotuber. Flowering peaks two or three years after a fire. The flowers are pollinated by honeyeaters, which perch as they consume the nectar.
Lambertia formosa is readily grown in a home garden given a sunny position and fair drainage. It is bird attracting.