Lechenaultia macrantha Wreath Leschenaultia Endemic
The Wreath Leschnaultia or Wreath Flower as many know it is one of the few plants many Western Australian folk with no interest at all in wild plants would probably recognise. The flowers on the outside of this circular plant make it look as though someone had scattered wreaths on the floor. The botanists of Mullewa, which is a town a hundred or so kilometres inland from Geraldton, make it their business to look out for these plants knowing that they will have to answer many queries about where it grows and when it flowers. In 2007 we had enquired about it and were told it was nearby but that to a Western Australian means something entirely different than to a British botanist. The nearest was over 200 kilometres and we had no time to search for it then.
In 2012 we allowed time to go to the Mullewa wild flower show where plants from the area are shown with very useful identifying labels. It was bad year for Lechenaultia macrantha as the there had not been anywhere near enough winter rainfall to sustain the usual numbers but the locals had kept one surviving by driving out to the bush and watering it every so often!
It was some way down an unsealed (unmetalled) road and somewhat hidden by the verge vegetation. A marker showed us where it was and we found two plants only. It can be yellow, pink or red with combinations of these colours and it grows mostly inland around the Mullewa region extending south towards the wheat belt but not very far.
|
| Lechenaultia macrantha Wreath Leschenaultia |
Side of Wongoondy Tardon Road, near Mullewa Western Australia 31st August 2012
Added on February 11th 2013