Howittia

:"For the brachiopod genus, see "Howittia (brachiopod).taxobox
name = "Howittia"
regnum = Plantae
unranked_divisio = Angiosperms
unranked_classis = Eudicots
unranked_ordo = Rosids
ordo = Malvales
familia = Malvaceae
genus = "Howittia"
genus_authority = F.Muell.
species = ""'H. trilocularis
binomial = "Howittia trilocularis"
binomial_authority = F.Muell.|

"Howittia" is a plant genus that contains just one species, "Howittia trilocularis" (Blue Howittia), a shrub which is native to Australia.

Description

"Howittia trilocularis" is a shrub that grows to between 1 and 3 metres in height. It has lancelolate to ovate leaves up to 10 cm long that are dark green above and white or yellow to brown beneath. The flowers, which range in colour from lavender to deep mauve, are produced on long peduncles from late spring through summer.

Taxonomy

Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller first formally described the species in 1855, from the type specimen which was found growing on "bushy declivities around Lake King". Howittia was named for Godfrey Howitt's work as an amateur botanist. [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040609b.htm?hilite=Godfrey%3BHowitt Godfrey Howitt at Australian Dictionary of Biography] accessed 2 October 2007]

Distribution

It occurs in eucalypt forests in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

References

*APNI | name = "Howittia" F.Muell. | id = 30329
*APNI | name = "Howittia trilocularis" F.Muell. | id = 30387
* [http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Howittia~trilocularis PlantNET: New South Wales Flora Online: "Howittia trilocularis"]
* [http://www.cpbr.gov.au/gnp/gnp7/howittia-trilocularis.html Australian National Botanic Gardens: "Howittia trilocularis"]