Lambertia orbifolia, commonly known as the roundleaf honeysuckle,[2] is a shrub or small tree that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has more or less circular leaves and groups of between four and six orange-red flowers.
fruit
Description
Lambertia orbifolia is a shrub or small tree that grows to a height of up to 5 m (16 ft) but does not form a lignotuber. It has erect, spreading branches covered with soft hairs. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs, sometimes in whorls of three and are 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) in diameter and sessile. The flowers are arranged in groups of between four and six, each flower 40–60 mm (1.6–2.4 in) long with overlapping bracts at the base. The flowers are orange-red and tube-shaped with hairs on the inside. Flowering occurs throughout the year but peaks between November and May. The fruit is a woody capsule 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) in diameter with a short beak[2][3][4][5]
Two subspecies have been named (Lambertia orbifolia C.A.Gardner subsp. orbifolia ms[10] and Lambertia orbifolia subsp. 'Scott River Plains' L.W.Sage 684[11]) but not formally described.[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
Roundleaf honeysuckle is known from two main areas, corresponding to the two proposed subspecies. Subspecies orbifolia occurs in the Narrikup area where it grows with jarrah and marri in banksia woodland, and subspecies 'Scott River Plains' grows in dense shrubland and heathland in the Scott River Plains.[2]
Ecology
Lambertia orbifolia is killed by fire and regenerates from seed shortly after the fire, but few germinate in the interfire period. The species is susceptible to Phytophthora cinnamomi infection. The main pollinator of the species is thought to be the New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae).[4]
^Francis Aubie Sharr (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings. Kardinya, Western Australia: Four Gables Press. p. 266. ISBN9780958034180.
