Correa backhouseana

Coast Correa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Genus:	Correa
Species:	C. backhouseana
Binomial name
Correa backhouseana Hook.

Correa backhouseana (Coast Correa) is a coastal shrub, endemic to Australia. It grows up to 2 metres in height. The ovate leaves are up to 3 cm long and 2 cm wide and are glossy dark green on top and pale grey underneath.^[1] The drooping, tubular flowers are pale yellow-green to white in colour.^[1]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1834 by botanist William Jackson Hooker in The Journal of Botany. The type specimen was collected by James Backhouse at Cape Grim in Tasmania in 1833.^[2]

Four varieties are currently recognised:

• Correa backhouseana Hook. var. backhouseana
• Correa backhouseana var. coriacea (Paul G.Wilson) Paul G.Wilson
• Correa backhouseana var. orbicularis Paul G.Wilson - Kangaroo Island Round-leaf Correa^[3]
• Correa backhouseana var. uniflora Regel

Distribution

The species occurs in Western Australia,^[4] South Australia , Victoria^[1] and the west and south coasts of Tasmania.^[5]

Cultivation

Correa backhouseana is a hardy plant that is useful as a screening plant or along fencelines. It is also used as a container plant and its flowers and foliage can be used in floral arrangements.^[6] It prefers a position with some shade and will tolerate salt-laden winds and frost.^[6]

The cultivar Correa backhouseana var. coriacea 'Eucla Gold' has smaller, narrower, and more brightly coloured flowers than usual. It was selected from a wild population near Eucla, Western Australia and brought into cultivation in Victoria in 1988.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Wild Plants of Victoria CD-ROM. Bentleigh East, Victoria: Viridans Biological Databases & Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2003. 
2. ^ "Correa backhouseana". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=CORREA+BACKHOUSEANA. Retrieved 2009-05-06. 
3. ^ "Biodiversity Assessment - Kanmantoo". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Australian Government. http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/vegetation/assessment/sa/ibra-kan-natural-values.html. Retrieved 2009-05-07. 
4. ^ "Correa backhouseana". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/18044. 
5. ^ "Correa backhousena". Key to Tasmanian Vascular Plants. University of Tasmania. http://www.utas.edu.au/dicotkey/dicotkey/RUT/sCorrea_backhouseana.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-06. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Greig, D. (1987). The Australian Gardener's Wildflower Catalogue. Australia: Angus & Robertson. ISBN 0207154600. 
7. ^ "Correa 'Eucla Gold'". Australian Cultivar Registration Authority. http://www.anbg.gov.au/acra/descriptions/acc710.html. Retrieved 2009-05-06.