Darwinia

Darwinia is a genus of between 30-60 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Myrtaceae, endemic to southeastern and southwestern Australia. The majority are native to southern Western Australia, but a few species occur in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. The genus was named in honour of Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin. They are commonly known as Mountain Bells or simply Bells.

The species of Darwinia grow to between 20-300 cm high, with many of the smaller species being prostrate. The leaves are opposite in decussate pairs (alternate in some species), simple, small, needle-like to oval, 4-20 mm long and 2-10 mm broad, mostly hard with a leathery texture. The flowers are grouped singly or several together, perfect, 2-30 mm long, with five red, white or greenish petals and ten stamens.

They are difficult to propagate from seed but can be cultivated from cuttings.

Many species in the genus Darwinia are threatened with extinction, being listed as Endangered or Vulnerable on the Australian National List of Threatened Flora. Land clearing and grazing practices have reduced the areas where Darwinia species grow naturally. Recovery is hindered by drought, changed fire regimes and susceptiblity to infection by the oomycete Phytophthora cinnamomi which kills the plants.


Some species
Darwinia citriodora, commonly known as Lemon-scented Darwinia, is an erect, or prostrate, shrub which is endemic to Southwest Australia. It usually grows to between 0.2 and 1.5 metres in height, occasionally reaching 3 metres, and produces red, yellow, and green flowers between May and December. It occurs on granite formations and lateritic soils.
The species has been used as rootstock in attempts to cultivate species of Verticordia.

Darwinia macrostegia, commonly known as Mondurup Bell, is a shrub which is endemic to a localised area near Albany in Western Australia. It usually grows to between 0.3 and 0.9 metres in height and produces red and white flowers between late autumn and late spring.

Darwinia neildiana is a shrub which is endemic to Western Australia.

Darwinia collina

Darwinia diminuta

Darwinia oxylepis

Darwinia peduncularis

Darwinia procera

Darwinia squarrosa

Darwinia taxifolia

Darwinia thymoides

Darwinia vestita

Darwinia wittweror

Darwinia fascicularis

Darwinia ferricola

Darwinia acerosa

Darwinia apiculata

Darwinia masonii

Darwinia diosmoides

Darwinia meeboldii

Darwinia biflora

Darwinia briggsiae

Darwinia camptostylis

Darwinia carnea

Darwinia chapmaniana

Darwinia glaucophylla

Darwinia grandiflora

Darwinia homoranthoides

Darwinia hypericifolia

Darwinia lejostyla

Darwinia leptantha

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