Goodenia lanata

Goodenia lanata
In Great Otway National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Goodeniaceae
Genus:	Goodenia
Species:	G. lanata
Binomial name
Goodenia lanata R.Br.[1]
Synonyms[1]
Goodenia geniculata var. lanata (R.Br.) Rodway nom. illeg.

Goodenia lanata, commonly known as trailing goodenia in Victoria and native primrose in Tasmania^[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Goodeniaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a prostrate or low-lying perennial herb with hairy, egg-shaped leaves and racemes of yellow flowers.

Description

Goodenia lanata is a low-lying to prostrate perennial herb with stems 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long and covered with soft, silvery-grey hairs. The leaves at the base of the plant are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, toothed or lyrate, 10–80 mm (0.39–3.15 in) long and 5–20 mm (0.20–0.79 in) wide, the leaves on the stems similar but smaller. The flowers are arranged in racemes up to 200 mm (7.9 in) long on peduncles 20–60 mm (0.79–2.36 in) long with leaf-like bracts and linear bracteoles 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long, the individual flowers on pedicels 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) long. The sepals are narrow oblong, 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, the corolla yellow, 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long. The lower lobes of the corolla are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long with wings about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. Flowering mainly occurs from September to March and the fruit is an oval to cylindrical capsule 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long.^[3][4]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1810 by botanist Robert Brown in Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae.^[5][6] The specific epithet (lanata) means "covered with tangled hairs".^[7]

Distribution and habitat

Trailing goodenia grows in heath, grassy woodland and open forest. It occurs mainly in southern Victoria and is widespread in Tasmania.^[3][4][8]

Cultural significance

Goodenia lanata is the emblem of the Field Naturalists' Club of Ballarat.^[9]

References

1. "Goodenia lanata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
2. Wild Plants of Victoria (database). Viridans Biological Databases & Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2009.
3. Carolin, Roger C. "Goodenia lanata". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
4. Jeanes, Jeff A. "Goodenia lanata". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
5. "Goodenia lanata". APNI. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
6. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 577. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
7. Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 234. ISBN 9780958034180.
8. Jordan, Greg. "Goodenia lanata". University of Tasmania. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
9. Gregurke, John E (October 1990). "Excursion – Creswick Railway Line". The Ballarat Naturalist: 2 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.