784 
Telopea Vol. 6(4): 1996 
The Neutral Red Test indicated that the flowers of seven species stain positively for 
the presence of osmophoric activity (Table 4). The floral sites showing the most 
consistent pattern of staining for all seven species were the stigmas, nectar glands 
and anthers. In P. levis and P. oxycoccoides the wrinkled margins of the tepal lobes 
also stained deeply. In four species the trichomes on the outsides of the tepals 
showed a strong response to the stain (Table 4). The staining of floral organs with 
Neutral Red varied between P. mollis subspecies. 
Flowers sampled on their branches and flowers kept in sealed vials showed four, 
overlapping scent types. A vanilla-musky scent was produced by P. silvatica and 
P. subvelutina. This is such a strong odour that it is still recognisable several metres 
away from the flowering shrub. The intensity of the odour does not become noticeably 
Fig. 2. Variation in the length and shape of the perianth tube. A, persoonia arborea; B, persoonia levis 
(scale = 5 mm). 
