Petrophile

''Petrophile'' is a genus of evergreen shrubs, in the family Proteaceae. The genus is endemic to Australia. Commonly known as conebushes, they typically have prickly, divided foliage and produce prominently-displayed pink, yellow or cream flowers followed by grey, conical fruits.

Taxonomy

The genus ''Petrophile'' was first formally described in 1809 by Joseph Knight in ''On the cultivation of the plants belonging to the natural order of Proteeae'', preempting publication of the same name by Robert Brown in his book ''On the natural order of plants called Proteaceae''.

The name ''Petrophile'' is derived from the Greek words ''petra'' = rock and ''philos'' = seeking or preferring, referring to the rocky habitat in which some species grow.

Species list

The following is a list of ''Petrophile'' species and subspecies accepted by the Australian Plant Census as at November 2020:

*'' Petrophile acicularis'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile aculeata'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile anceps'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile antecedens'' Hislop & Rye (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile arcuata'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile aspera'' C.A.Gardner ex Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile axillaris'' Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile biloba'' R.Br. - granite petrophile (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile biternata'' Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile brevifolia'' Lindl. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile canescens'' A.Cunn. ex R.Br. (Qld., N.S.W.)
*'' Petrophile carduacea'' Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile chrysantha'' Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile circinata'' Kippist ex Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile clavata'' Hislop & Rye (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile conifera'' Meisn. (W.A.)
** ''Petrophile conifera'' Meisn. subsp. ''conifera''
** ''Petrophile conifera'' subsp. ''divaricata'' Hislop & K.A.Sheph.
*'' Petrophile crispata'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile cyathiforma'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile divaricata'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile diversifolia'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile drummondii'' Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile ericifolia'' R.Br. (W.A.)
** ''Petrophile ericifolia'' R.Br. subsp. ''ericifolia''
** ''Petrophile ericifolia'' subsp. ''subpubescens'' ( Domin) Foreman
*'' Petrophile fastigiata'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile filifolia'' R.Br. (W.A.)
** ''Petrophile filifolia'' R.Br. subsp. ''filifolia''
** ''Petrophile filifolia'' subsp. ''laxa'' Rye & Hislop
*'' Petrophile foremanii'' Rye & Hislop (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile glauca'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile globifera'' Rye & K.A.Sheph. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile helicophylla'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile heterophylla'' Lindl. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile imbricata'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile incurvata'' W.Fitzg. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile juncifolia'' Lindl. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile latericola'' Keighery (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile linearis'' R.Br. - pixie mops (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile longifolia'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile macrostachya'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile media'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile megalostegia'' F.Muell. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile merrallii'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile misturata'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile multisecta'' F.Muell. (S.A.)
*'' Petrophile nivea'' Hislop & Rye (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile pauciflora'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile pedunculata'' R.Br. - conesticks (N.S.W.)
*'' Petrophile phylicoides'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile pilostyla'' Rye & Hislop (W.A.)
** ''Petrophile pilostyla'' subsp. ''austrina'' Rye & Hislop
** ''Petrophile pilostyla'' Rye & Hislop subsp. ''pilostyla''
** ''Petrophile pilostyla'' subsp. ''syntoma'' Rye & Hislop
*'' Petrophile plumosa'' Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile prostrata'' Rye & Hislop (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile pulchella'' ( Schrad. & J.C.Wendl.) R.Br. (Qld., N.S.W.)
*'' Petrophile recurva'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile rigida'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile scabriuscula'' Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile semifurcata'' F.Muell. ex Benth. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile seminuda'' Lindl. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile septemfida'' Rye & Sheph. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile serruriae'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile sessilis'' Sieber ex Schult. - prickly conesticks (N.S.W.)
*'' Petrophile shirleyae'' F.M.Bailey (Qld.)
*'' Petrophile shuttleworthiana'' Meisn. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile squamata'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile striata'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile stricta'' C.A.Gardner ex Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile teretifolia'' R.Br. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile trifurcata'' Foreman (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile vana'' Cranfield & T.D.Macfarl. (W.A.)
*'' Petrophile wonganensis'' Foreman (W.A.)

Distribution

Species within this genus predominantly occur in Western Australia, but several species are found in other states including South Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.

Use in horticulture

Plants in this genus, particularly those from Western Australia, require a freely draining soil . They tolerate periods of dryness and mild frosts and will grow well in full sun or part shade. They can be propagated from cuttings taken in autumn or from seed, however the production of new plants by either method can be slow.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2709782

Proteaceae genera
Proteales of Australia
Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)
Endemic flora of Australia