''Conospermum taxifolium'', commonly known as variable smoke-bush, yew-leaf smoke bush or paint brush, is a plant in the family

Proteaceae The Proteaceae form a family of flowering plants predominantly distributed in the Southern Hemisphere. The family comprises 83 genera with about 1,660 known species. Together with the Platanaceae and Nelumbonaceae, they make up the order Pro ...

and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with narrow elliptic to narrow egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and

panicle 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 panicle are of ...

s of cream-coloured to white, tube-shaped flowers.

Description

''Conospermum taxifolium'' is an erect shrub with rod-like branches and that typically grows to a height of up to . It has spreading to erect, twisted narrow elliptic to narrow egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide. The flowers are arranged in panicles wide on the ends of branches or in leaf axils, on peduncles long. The flowers are sessile with a bluish

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

about long at the base. The flowers are tube-shaped with white to cream-coloured tepals long and hairy on the outside. The upper lip of the flower is sac-like and the lower lip has three lobes. Flowering occurs from August to November and the fruit is a hairy

nut Nut often refers to: * Nut (fruit), fruit composed of a hard shell and a seed, or a collective noun for dry and edible fruits or seeds * Nut (hardware), fastener used with a bolt Nut or Nuts may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Com ...

long.

Taxonomy

''Conospermum taxifolium'' was first formally described in 1807 by

Karl Friedrich von Gaertner Karl Friedrich von Gaertner (or Carl Friedrich von Gärtner) (1 May 1772 – 1 September 1850) was a well-known Germany, German botanist, and the son of Joseph Gaertner. He was a pioneer in the study of Hybrid (biology), hybrids, and he is conside ...

in Joseph Gaertner's book, '' Supplementum Carpologicae''.

Distribution and habitat

Variable smoke-bush grows in heath and woodland on the coast and nearby ranges, sometimes further inland, and is widespread from southern Queensland through eastern New South Wales to the far eastern corner of Victoria.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q5162333 taxifolium Flora of New South Wales Flora of Queensland Taxa named by Karl Friedrich von Gaertner