''Boronia alata'', also known as winged boronia, is a flowering shrub. It is an endemic species of

Southwest Australia Southwest Australia is a biogeographic region in Western Australia. It includes the Mediterranean-climate area of southwestern Australia, which is home to a diverse and distinctive flora and fauna. The region is also known as the Southwest Au ...

which has been introduced elsewhere as a cultivated plant.

Description

''Boronia alata'' is an erect shrub with many branches growing to a height and width of but in exposed areas, sometimes a prostrate shrub only high. The leaves are

pinnate Pinnation (also called pennation) is the arrangement of feather-like or multi-divided features arising from both sides of a common axis. Pinnation occurs in biological morphology, in crystals, such as some forms of ice or metal crystals, and ...

with usually between seven and thirteen leaflets and long and wide in outline. The

petiole Petiole may refer to: *Petiole (botany), the stalk of a leaf, attaching the blade to the stem *Petiole (insect anatomy) In entomology, petiole is the technical term for the narrow waist of some hymenopteran insects, especially ants, bees, and ...

is long. The leaflets are elliptic to lance-shaped, glossy and dark green but paler on the lower side. The end leaflet is long and wide, the side leaflets long and wide. The flowers are pink or white and borne in large groups in a

panicle In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...

on the ends of branches, sometimes also in upper leaf

axil A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, fl ...

s, on a peduncle long. The four

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...

s are narrow triangular, long and wide, the four

petal Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...

s long and wide. The eight

stamen The stamen (: stamina or stamens) is a part consisting of the male reproductive organs of a flower. Collectively, the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filament ...

s alternate in length, with those near the sepals longer than those near the petals. Flowering occurs from July to December and the fruit are hairy capsules long and wide.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by James Edward Smith in 1807, based on a collection made by

Archibald Menzies Archibald Menzies ( ; 15 March 1754 – 15 February 1842) was a Scottish surgeon, botanist and naturalist. He spent many years at sea, serving with the Royal Navy, private merchants, and the Vancouver Expedition. During his naval expeditions, h ...

King George Sound King George Sound (Mineng ) is a sound (geography), sound on the south coast of Western Australia. Named King George the Third's Sound in 1791, it was referred to as King George's Sound from 1805. The name "King George Sound" gradually came in ...

. The common name winged boronia is cited in state and national floras, and as a horticultural alternative since its introduction to English hothouses. The identification of

varieties Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

of this species by

Ferdinand von Mueller Baron Sir Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von Mueller, (; 30 June 1825 – 10 October 1896) was a German-Australian physician, geographer, and most notably, a botanist. He was appointed government botanist for the then colony of Victoria, Australia ...

was later revised to see the

autonym Autonym may refer to: * Autonym, the name used by a person to refer to themselves or their language; see Exonym and endonym * Autonym (botany), an automatically created infrageneric or infraspecific name See also * Nominotypical subspecies, in zo ...

''Boronia alata'' Sm. var. ''alata'' cited as a synonym for ''Boronia alata''.

Distribution and habitat

The shrub occurs in Southwest Australia, with most records located at coastal areas. The disjunct records are from

Esperance Plains Esperance Plains, also known as Eyre Botanical District, is a biogeography, biogeographic region in southern Western Australia on the South_coast_of_Western_Australia , south coast between the Avon Wheatbelt and Hampton bioregions, and bordere ...

Jarrah Forest Jarrah Forest, also known as the Southwest Australia woodlands, is an interim Australian bioregion and ecoregion located in the south west of Western Australia.

Swan Coastal Plain The Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia is the geographic feature which contains the Swan River as it travels west to the Indian Ocean. The coastal plain continues well beyond the boundaries of the Swan River and its tributaries, as a geol ...

and

Warren Warren most commonly refers to: * Warren (burrow), a network dug by rabbits * Warren (name), a given name and a surname, including lists of persons so named Warren may also refer to: Places Australia * Warren (biogeographic region) * War ...

biogeographic regions. The habitat is dense vegetation on sand at dunes and limestone cliffs.

Use in horticulture

''Boronia alata'' is cultivated as an

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

. It is able to be propagated from cuttings. As with most boronias, a heavily shaded situation is preferred for this species. The persistent flowers first appear in the austral spring, in a boronia form that is more open and 'star shaped' than concave or cupped; these are usually pink or infrequently white in colour. The native conditions can be simulated by providing well drained sand, with deep mulch or sandstone sheets that maintain available moisture and protect roots from higher temperature. The species was introduced to English gardens in 1824 as a small evergreen

greenhouse A greenhouse is a structure that is designed to regulate the temperature and humidity of the environment inside. There are different types of greenhouses, but they all have large areas covered with transparent materials that let sunlight pass an ...

specimen, flowering from May to July. The scent of the flowers is slightly fragrant. The vigour of its rootstock was recommended for

grafting Grafting or graftage is a horticulture, horticultural technique whereby tissues of plants are joined so as to continue their growth together. The upper part of the combined plant is called the scion () while the lower part is called the roots ...

with '' Boronia pinnata'' for English enthusiasts.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15387949 alata Endemic flora of Southwest Australia Garden plants of Australia Plants described in 1807