Lechenaultia brevifolia - Goodeniaceae

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Lechenaultia brevifolia - Goodeniaceae

Lechenaultia brevifolia is another species that can germinate in considerable number after bushfires, but can also persist in natural openings in heath to the North and NE of Esperance. Locally it is found in deep yellow sand, which occur like islands in the inland mallee region, whose soil normally consist of a fine sand/clay loam over limestone. These sandy islands are often quite large to cover a square kilometre/mile or even larger and have a heathland vegetation with many species normally encountered in coastal regions, although not this one. Outside the Esperance region, it has been found further to the NW of Esperance and inland as far as Kalgoorlie, particularly on red sands.

This species is often mistaken for Lechenaultia biloba, particularly as some popular but old botanical keys do not contain Lechenaultia brevifolia, as it was only described 1986. However L. biloba does not occur in this district. In the Esperance region, L. brevifolia is very similar to Lechenaultia heteromera (see post under that name in lower right-hand column), but that species only grows in near coastal locations west of Esperance and does not overlap with this one. Taxonomically, these species differ radically with the size and arrangement of their leaves, with L. brevifolia having leaves to only 3 mm (1/8”) in length, which are crowded at the base of the flowering stem, but sparse in the upper part. There are other differences too, which can be seen if both posts are viewed.

Owing to the open sparse nature of this shrub, it is easily overlooked when not in flower, but when with bright blue flowers you cannot ignore it, as they seem suspended in mid-air. Flowering is recorded from July to December, but this timing will vary depending on location and local rainfall. Around Esperance, October to December would be the usual period.

Lechenaultia heteromera - Claw Leschenaultia

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Lechenaultia heteromera - Claw Leschenaultia

Lechenaultia heteromera from the family Goodeniaceae, is largely known from the Fitzgerald River National Park (200 km or 125 miles west of Esperance), with other collections a little east of Hopetoun (on the coast south of Ravensthorpe), which I would normally consider outside my limitations of the Esperance region. However, the above (probably the current most easterly record) was photographed in recently burnt bushland, 13 km (8 miles) west of Oldfield River and either side of Middle Road, a little under 1 km west of Bedford Harbour Road, where common and widespread.

Like many Goodeniaceae plants, they need a fire to encourage seed germination, so many of these species are not seen unless the right conditions eventuate. A difference between the above plants when compared to the Fitzgerald River location is the flower color, which in this colony is a darker blue that was consistent with hundreds of plants seen. This variation may be due to the soils involved, which further west are listed as deep white sand, but here are a sandy loam over gravel that would provide greater nutrition.

The plants were to ½ metre (20”) in height with an open structure, only noticeable by the attractive blue/white flowers. The leaves to less than 9 mm (3/8”), are quite distinctive when compared to other local species, by being uncrowded and evenly spread over the branches. They are also fleshy and sometimes curved. The flowers are recorded blooming from August to December.

Lechenaultia papillata – Goodeniaceae

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Lechenaultia papillata – Goodeniaceae

The Goodeniaceae family is large and diverse with many species only germinating after a bushfire, Lechenaultia papillata is one such plant and will commonly do so in compact colonies of several hundred plants. These will usually disappear after 2-4 years and will not reappear until another fire has been through. I don’t think this species is particularly short-lived, but it grows on the edge of its habitat and when conditions exceed these, they simply die.

Lechenaultia papillata prefers fine sandy clay loams, or silty loams, particularly in low-lying areas such as hollows or where there is sub-surface moisture, often over limestone in the inland mallee region NE and NW of Esperance. Here it blooms during October and November, both notorious months in these dry inland habitats for their unreliable rainfall. Therefore when a dry year comes around, which it does regularly, these Lechenaultia die out and as they only germinate after fire, are completely absent for a number of years with their seed awaiting another fire, followed by good rainfall.

This species is called L. papillata because of the papillae (tiny round bumps) that cover the leaves. Unless you have very good eyesight, you will probably need a magnifying glass to see them, although they can just be seen in one of the photos above. This is the only Lechenaultia with this feature.

Lechenaultia papillata grows to around ½ metre (20”) in height and has light blue, to a mauve blue flowers, but not dark blue that are distinctive to couple of other local Lechenaultia spp. that I shall detail shortly. The leaves besides being papillate are fleshy, densely crowded and less than 4 mm in length. Despite some Lechenaultia species in the Esperance district appearing like the popular garden plant Lechenaultia biloba, that species does not occur here.

Lechenaultia tubiflora – Heath Lechenaultia

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Lechenaultia tubiflora – Heath Lechenaultia

The Lechenaultia genus is part of the Goodeniaceae family, which is made up of a large number of smallish plants with brightly coloured flowers, which in Western Australia can be weed-like by reproducing in considerable numbers after bushfires or in disturbed soil. Consequently, this family is responsible for many splashes of color that makes wildflower hunting in this State so memorable.

Lechenaultia tubiflora prefers good drainage and is commonly found in raised non-calcareous sandy soil above its highly colourful relative, Lechenaultia formosa, although the Heath Lechenaultia tends to flower later. Also like its close relative, it sports a combination of vivid flower colours (including bi-coloured varieties) that often grow next to each other.

The tubular flowers are around 2 cm (3/4”) in length and bloom for several weeks to provide when plentiful, some spectacular displays. Mostly they grow as semi-prostrate shrubs spreading to 50 cm (18”) diameter, but occasionally will grow taller to 15 cm (6”). As far as pollination is concerned, I have seen honeyeating birds probing the flowers, but insects with a long proboscis like moths and butterflies probably visit too.

The Heath Lechenaultia is common in near coastal sandplain heath either side of Esperance. It then continues west until the big timber country past Albany, where it then heads north to near Perth and the coastal region south of Geraldton. Flowering is recorded from August to January, but around Esperance (dependant on seasonal weather conditions) October to December is usually their best time.

Lechenaultia formosa - Goodeniaceae

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Lechenaultia formosa - Goodeniaceae

Goodeniaceae is a family of fan-flowers, ie with spreading petals in the shape of a fan. They are often highly colourful small shrubs and non-woody plants (herbs), but the most outstanding species with the greatest spectrum is Lechenaultia formosa. This plant is commonly called the Red Lechenaultia, but it comes in many colors from yellow to scarlet and every hue between, and these are not flat colors either, but like deep velvet as you peer into them the colors become richer or shift to other tints.

Although brilliantly colored and often exotic in appearance, many Goodeniaceae are very weed-like appearing in large numbers after fire or soil disturbance. Lechenaultia formosa likewise often grows in large rambling colonies, and if the habitat remains open and free of introduced weeds, particularly grasses, they will continue to grow and flower for many years.

Lechenaultia formosa is very widespread in southern WA from the coast to mallee regions, growing in non-calcareous sand or gravel soils. It is however a moisture loving plant and generally occurs in low-lying or ephemeral seepage zones that may flood after heavy rain, but will slowly drain rather than evaporate.

Depending on the timing of seasonal rainfall, flowering can occur between May and November, but when conditions are suitable, plants will produce considerable numbers of flowers the size of your thumbnail over several months.