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Narrogin district Persoonias

13/4/2022

Plants in this group are root sucker clones

Greetings fellow Foxies,
Persoonia is an unusual genus in the Proteaceae family. Local names are Geebungs in eastern states (remember Banjo Patersons' famous poem - Geebung polo club?), and snottygobbles in WA.
Unlike most Proteaceae genera, persoonias do not have cluster roots. probably having mycorrhizas like most plants. Their flowers do not have secondary pollen presentation. Stamens in the yellow flowers surrounding the style, mature first and then fold outwards out of the way.
They are very fire tolerant. They germinate after fire, but and are difficult to grow from seed.

I have found three species, all on well-drained soils. Persoonia quinquinervis is a common root-suckering species, which occurs in large patches in Foxes Lair. I also found a similar species Persoonia trinervis at Candy Block.

Persoonia quinquinervis

Typical linear leaves

Persoonia trinervis

Persoonia longifolia the definitive 'snottygobble, is graceful small tree that grows on gravel uplands in the Darling Range. "When opened, the small, sweet fruit is mucous-like and green hence the first part of its rather singular name. The ‘gobble’ part apparently originated when pioneers observed pigs hastily consuming the fruit."
I have been trying to taste the disgusting looking but tasty drupe for years, but haven't managed to find one at the right stage

Snottygobble flowers too early

firm drupe too late for eating

Dry fruit much too late

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Foxydoug's Guide to Narrogin Proteaceae Genera

4/4/2022

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Greetings fellow Foxies,
I became interested in Proteaceae via gravelly soils while working for the WA Department of Agriculture as an adviser. At that time it was thought that ancient fluctuating groundwater created gravel, and that Proteaceae evolved to grow on these soils.
Dr Bill Verboom (a work colleague), turned this idea on its head by proposing that plants can create soils to give them an evolutionary advantage. Proteaceae have evolved cluster roots, which enable them to access the nutrient phosphorus in infertile soils. Cluster roots and associated soil microbes create lateritic soils including bauxite. For more information click here.

Australia girt by gravel

I recently realised that I didn't know how to distinguish Proteaceae genera from each other. Alas my ageing memory is less than photographic, and I rely on rules of thumb. Here is my rough guide. No doubt there are exceptions but some may find it useful.

Proteaceae features

Proteaceae have tubular flowers (a corolla) with four tepals (combined petal/sepal).
The central female part consists of a superior (above surface of flower base) ovary connected to a single unbranched style.
Their fruit only has one or two seeds in a 2-lobed papery (Grevillea) or woody (Hakea, Lambertia) fruit or cone (Banksia, Isopogon or Petrophile, or tiny nuts (Conospermum, Synaphea, or drupes (Persoonia).
Most Proteaceae produce few seeds, particularly resprouters

Species with short corolla tube and small tepals

Synaphea has divided leaves and clusters of yellow flowers

Conospermum has entire leaves and clusters of tiny blue grey or white flowers

Conospermum stoechadis common smokebush

Species with a medium to long corolla tube - the style bursts out of the side of the tube before the tepals separate

section of a grevillea flower spike

Grevilleas mostly have flowers with thickened styles on end of branches and papery fruit.

Adenanthos (woolly bushes) have only 1 or 2 flowers together.

Hakeas mostly have thickened styles on flowers between leaves on branches and woody fruit

Dryandras mostly have thin styles and groups of flowers surrounded by bracts (modified leaves)

Banksias mostly have thin styles and flowers and fruit in a round or elongate cone

Species with medium to long corolla tube - style emerges from end of corolla tube as tepals fold back

Stirlingia. Anthers inside folded tepal. Entire leaves and sprays of flowers arise from plant base.

Persoonia. Anthers around style. Entire leaves.

Petrophile. Anthers inside folded tepal. Scaly cone fruit.

Isopogon. Anthers inside folded tepal. Smooth cone fruit.

Lambertia. Anthers inside folded tepal. Woody fruit with horned lobes.

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