Kingdom Plantae Family Myrtaceae Scientific name Darwinia squarrosa | Order Myrtales Genus Darwinia Rank Species | |
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Similar Darwinia collina, Darwinia macrostegia, Darwinia carnea, Darwinia oxylepis, Darwinia leiostyla | ||
Darwinia squarrosa, the pink mountain bell or fringed mountain bell, is a shrub which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has an erect and straggly habit, growing to between 0.2 and 1 metre high. The fringed bracts around the flowers form a pendent "bell" which is usually red or pink These are primarily produced between August and November in the species native range.
Contents
It occurs on rocky slopes of the eastern peaks of the Stirling Range National Park.
Taxonomy and naming
The species was first formally described in 1852 by Ukrainian-Russian botanist Nicolai Stepanovitch Turczaninow who gave it the name Genetyllis squarrosa. The species was transferred to the genus Darwinia in 1923 by Czech botanist Karel Domin. The specific epithet (squarrosa) is a Latin word meaning "rough with stiff scales, bracts or processes".
Cultivation
The species requires good drainage and protection from direct sun. It is difficult to propagate from seed, but cuttings strike readily. Grafting on stocks of Darwinia citriodora may be carried out in areas with unsuitable growing conditions.