Rhagodia baccata
Encyclopedia
Rhagodia baccata, commonly known as Berry Saltbush, is a species of shrub endemic to Western Australia
.
. It bears red berries.
as Chenopodium baccatum. In 1810, Robert Brown
transferred it into Rhagodia
as Rhagodia billardierei, but this name was illegal, as there were no grounds for the specific epithet to be to overturned. In 1849, Alfred Moquin-Tandon
transferred the species into Rhagodia as R. baccata, and this name remains current to date.
Two subspecies are currently recognised: the autonym
R. baccata subsp. baccata, and R. baccata subsp. dioica, which was demoted from specific rank by Paul G. Wilson in 1983. These two subspecies intergrade in areas where they co-occur.
Western Australia
, ranging from Geraldton
, south to Cape Leeuwin
, and east along the south coast as far as Cape Arid. There are also some outlying populations: it has been confirmed as occurring as far north as North West Cape
, and well inland near Wiluna
. It does, however, appear to be endemic to Western Australia; alleged collections of this plant from other states have now been shown to be specimens of the similar Rhagodia candolleana
.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Description
It is a spreading shrub up to two metres high, with elliptical leaves, and flowers that occur in a paniclePanicle
A panicle is a compound raceme, a loose, much-branched indeterminate inflorescence with pedicellate flowers attached along the secondary branches; in other words, a branched cluster of flowers in which the branches are racemes....
. It bears red berries.
Taxonomy
It was first published in 1805 by Jacques LabillardièreJacques Labillardière
Jacques-Julien Houtou de Labillardière was a French naturalist noted for his descriptions of the flora of Australia. Labillardière was a member of a voyage in search of the La Pérouse expedition...
as Chenopodium baccatum. In 1810, Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
transferred it into Rhagodia
Rhagodia
Rhagodia is a genus of shrubs native to Australia. They are common in salt marsh and may be succulent, like other salt tolerant species its members are commonly known as saltbushes.Species include:...
as Rhagodia billardierei, but this name was illegal, as there were no grounds for the specific epithet to be to overturned. In 1849, Alfred Moquin-Tandon
Alfred Moquin-Tandon
Christian Horace Benedict Alfred Moquin-Tandon was a French naturalist and doctor.Moquin-Tandon was professor of zoology at Marseille from 1829 until 1833, when he was appointed professor of botany and director of the botanical gardens at Toulouse. In 1850, he was sent by the French government to...
transferred the species into Rhagodia as R. baccata, and this name remains current to date.
Two subspecies are currently recognised: the autonym
Autonym (botany)
In botanical nomenclature, autonyms are automatically created names, as regulated by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature . Autonyms are cited without an author. Relevant provisions are in articles 6.8, 22.1-3 and 26.1-3....
R. baccata subsp. baccata, and R. baccata subsp. dioica, which was demoted from specific rank by Paul G. Wilson in 1983. These two subspecies intergrade in areas where they co-occur.
Distribution and habitat
It mainly occurs along the coast of southwesternSouthwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, ranging from Geraldton
Geraldton, Western Australia
Geraldton is a city and port in Western Australia located north of Perth in the Mid West region. Geraldton has an estimated population at June 2010 of 36,958...
, south to Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly mainland point of the Australian Continent, in the state of Western Australia.A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further to the south. The nearest settlement, north of the cape, is Augusta. South-east of Cape Leeuwin, the coast...
, and east along the south coast as far as Cape Arid. There are also some outlying populations: it has been confirmed as occurring as far north as North West Cape
North West Cape
North West Cape is a large peninsula of land in the north west coast of Western Australia. Cape Range runs down the spine of the peninsula and Ningaloo Reef runs along the western edge...
, and well inland near Wiluna
Wiluna, Western Australia
Wiluna is a complex town in the Mid West region of Western Australia. It is situated on the edge of the Western Desert at the gateway to the Canning Stock Route and Gunbarrel Highway. It is the service centre of the local area for the local Aboriginal people, the pastoral industry, mining, and...
. It does, however, appear to be endemic to Western Australia; alleged collections of this plant from other states have now been shown to be specimens of the similar Rhagodia candolleana
Rhagodia candolleana
Rhagodia candolleana is a shrub in the Chenopodiaceae family, native to Australia.-Description:This species forms a dense shrub up to 2 metres in height...
.