782 
Telopea Vol. 6(4): 1996 
Floral presentation 
Upon expansion of the perianth, the flowers of most Persoonia species are held 
suberect (45 degrees) to horizontal in relation to the axis of the branch supporting 
the inflorescence. The flowers of P. microphylla, P. mi/rtilloides, P. nutans and P. oblongata 
nod on dangling pedicels less than 180 degrees to the axis. 
The presentation of the tepals varies within the genus Persoonia. Some species produce 
a zygomorphic perianth but most are actinomorphic (Weston 1994). All eastern 
Australian species in this study have actinomorphic perianths with tepals forming a 
radially symmetrical tube or vase around the stalked ovary. The base of each tepal is 
a short, thin, flexible hinge (Fig. 1). In most species the tepals constrict to clasp the 
gynoecium. Since the anthers are fused to the tepals they form a secondary tube 
around the protruding style (Fig. 1). Therefore, less than a third of the style is usually 
visible in whole living flowers, as it is covered by the tepals and occluded further by 
the angled lower halves of the anthers (Fig. 1). In P. arborea and P. cbainaepiti/s the 
tepals are not constricted so both the entire style and top of the ovary are visible to the 
viewer over the floral lifespan (Table 3). 
Tepal length varies between species, producing tubes of different lengths and shapes 
(Fig. 2; Table 3). In P. arborea, for example, the tube is long, may curve and tends to 
constrict at its base, becoming trumpet-like or funnel-shaped (Fig. 2). In contrast, the 
tube of P. pinifolia expands at its base forming a bulbous pouch (Fig. 1). In P. levis the 
tube is so reduced it grades abruptly into a pot or pouch (Fig. 2). Persoonia arborea, 
P. chamaepitys, P. silvatica and P. subvelutina were the only species sampled that produce 
floral tubes greater than 4 mm long (Table 3). There was no correlation between tube 
length, topography or altitude. 
Table 3. Floral tube length (mm) for each species of Persoonia from 
this study, compiled from herbarium specimens held at NSW. 
Taxon 
acerosa 
arborea 
asperuia 
chamaepeuce 
chamaepitys 
glaucescens 
isophylla 
lanceolate 
laurina subsp. laurina 
levis 
microphylla 
mollis 
myrtllloldes subsp. myrtllloides 
nutans 
oblongata 
oxycoccoldes 
pinifolia 
silvatica 
subvelutina 
virgata 
n 
mean 
range 
22 
3.53 
2.5-4.4 
4 
9,33 
8.0-10.3 
7 
2.67 
2.1-3.1 
42 
3.00 
2.2-4.3 
17 
7.15 
4.0-12.5 
10 
4.09 
3.4-4.9 
11 
2.46 
2.1-2.9 
38 
3.58 
2.6-4.5 
19 
4.96 
3.9-6.3 
24 
4.12 
3.0-5.3 
5 
2.56 
2.2-3.3 
93 
3.31 
2.4-4.5 
16 
3.34 
2,7-3.8 
17 
2.82 
2.3-3,6 
12 
3.65 
3 3-4.0 
10 
2.37 
1.9-2.7 
23 
3.47 
2.9-4.2 
20 
4.16 
2.6-5.0 
8 
5.34 
m 
1 
23 
2.57 
1.9-3.7 
which bees were collected for 
S.D. 
ovary exposed? 
0.50 
no 
0.84 
yes 
0.31 
no 
0.50 
no 
2.85 
yes 
0.55 
no 
0,22 
no 
0.49 
no 
0.69 
no 
0.53 
no 
0.40 
no 
0.44 
no 
0.36 
no 
0.38 
no 
0.30 
no 
0.29 
no 
0.35 
no 
0.67 
no 
0.70 
no 
0.38 
no 
