Westringia dampieri Shore Westringia Endemic
The Westringia genus is named after Johan Peter Westring an 18th century naturalist who worked with the famous founder of modern botany, Carl Nilsson Linaeus. Two years before Linaeus died Westring defended an academic dissertation for him on Ledum palustre (Labrador-tea) which was about its medicinal properties and possible treatment for diseases such as Leprosy. The species name dampieri is also named after a notable botanist and navigator William Dampier, who was one of the first to bring back specimens of Australian plants to Britain.
Westringia dampieri is a coastal plant often found in hummocks on the shore itself in both Western and South Australia. At this time of year it was only just coming into flower but the unusual flower makes an excellent close-up even with just a single bloom.
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| Westringia dampieri Shore Westringia |
Rottnest Island, near Perth, 20th September 2007
Added on 10th May 2012