Pastel flower
At McKay Reserve, Palm Beach, NSW, January 2018
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Pseuderanthemum
Species:
P. variabile
Binomial name
Pseuderanthemum variabile
Synonyms[2]
List
  • Chrestienia elegans Montrouz.
  • Chrestienia montana Montrouz.
  • Eranthemum micranthum Nees
  • Eranthemum pratense Pancher ex Beauvis.
  • Eranthemum variabile R.Br.
  • Eranthemum variabile var. dentatum Nees
  • Eranthemum variabile var. integrifolium Nees
  • Eranthemum variabile var. lineare Nees
  • Eranthemum variabile var. molle Benth.
  • Pseuderanthemum grandiflorum f. glabrescens Domin
  • Pseuderanthemum grandiflorum var. longiflorum Domin
  • Pseuderanthemum grandiflorum var. molle (Benth.) Domin
  • Pseuderanthemum grandiflorum var. perglandulosum Domin
  • Pseuderanthemum grandiflorum var. pluriflorum Domin
  • Pseuderanthemum grandiflorum f. subrosulatum Domin
  • Pseuderanthemum microcarpum Domin
  • Pseuderanthemum ultralineare Domin
  • Siphoneranthemum variabile (R.Br.) Kuntze

Pseuderanthemum variabile, commonly known as pastel flower or love flower in its native range, or night and afternoon in the USA, is a small perennial herb in the family Acanthaceae which is native to Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. It can be an unwelcome nuisance in orchid nurseries in Australia.

Description

Pseuderanthemum variabile is a creeping herb with a highly variable appearance, growing up to 30 cm (12 in) high, all parts of which may be pubescent. The wiry stems are around 1–2 millimetres (0.04–0.08 in) wide. The leaves are lanceolate to ovate in shape with entire margins, and their arrangement is opposite and decussate. They measure up to 7 cm (2.8 in) long by 4 cm (1.6 in) wide with petioles up to 30 mm (1.2 in) long, and have from 3 to 6 lateral veins either side of the midrib.[3][4][5]

The leaf colour varies greatly. The upper surface is usually dark green to mid-green, but may have varying amounts of light grey or (rarely) purple patterning. The lower surface of the leaf is usually light green but may also be purple or dark red (see gallery for examples).

The inflorescence is produced from the terminal axil, and the zygomorphic flowers have five petals.[5] Two petals are smaller than the others and are usually uppermost. They measure around 7 by 4 mm (0.28 by 0.16 in) and overlap each other slightly. Two more are held perpendicular to the first pair, one on either side, and the last (and largest) petal is opposite the first pair. This one measures about 10 by 6 mm (0.39 by 0.24 in) and is often decorated with a variable number of small purple spots. The petals may be any colour shade from white to pink or lilac.[3][4][5]

The fruit is a capsule up to 15 mm (0.59 in) long, and may be pubescent or glabrous.[3][5]

Taxonomy

The basionym of this species is Eranthemum variabile which was first described by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown in his book Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen published in 1810.[6][7] In 1883 the German taxonomist and botanist Ludwig Radlkofer transferred a number of species, including E. variablile, to the new genus Pseuderanthemum.[8]

Distribution and habitat

This species is found in Papua New Guinea, eastern parts of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia, and in New Caledonia.[3][4][9][10] It may occupy a number of forest types in Australia, most often rainforest and wet sclerophyll forest, but also woodlands, open forest and deciduous vine thickets.[3][4]

It has been introduced to Florida, South Carolina and Puerto Rico.[2]

Ecology

P. variabile is the food plant for caterpillars of a number of butterflies in the family Nymphalidae, including Doleschallia bisaltide, Hypolimnas alimena, Hypolimnas bolina, Hypolimnas misippus and Junonia orithya.[11]

Conservation

This species is listed by the Queensland Department of Environment and Science as least concern.[1] As of 29 April 2022, it has not been assessed by the IUCN.

Cultivation and uses

It is an attractive addition to gardens, and can be used as a feature, a ground cover, or a gap filler in a rockery. It is easily grown from seed or cuttings.[5]

In Australia, it is reported by some orchid nurseries as a pest, as it often appears in pots and may be difficult to eradicate.[5][12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Species profile—Pseuderanthemum variabile". Queensland Department of Environment and Science. Queensland Government. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Pseuderanthemum variabile". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "PlantNET - FloraOnline". PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 F.A.Zich; B.P.M.Hyland; T.Whiffen; R.A.Kerrigan (2020). "Pseuderanthemum variabile". Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Edition 8 (RFK8). Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (CANBR), Australian Government. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Howes, Jeff (27 July 2020). "Pseuderanthemum variabile". Australian Plants Society NSW. The Australian Plants Society NSW Ltd. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "Eranthemum variabile". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Prodromus floræ Novæ Hollandiæ et Insulæ Van-Diemen. Retrieved 30 April 2022 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  8. ↑ "Pseuderanthemum". International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Conn, B.J. "Census of Vascular Plants Of Papua New Guinea". Plants of Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "Pseuderanthemum variabile (R.Br.) Radlk". Endemia.nc, Fauna and Flora of New Caledonia. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  11. ↑ "HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants". Natural History Museum, London. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "Pseuderanthemum variabile 'Love Flower' 'Pastel Flower' What a pest of a weed in orchid collections.!!". Australian Orchid Nursery. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
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