Dancing Lechenaultia (Lechenaultia orchestris, Goodeniaceae), a new species with horticultural potential from southern Western Australia

Abstract

Lechenaultia R.Br. (Goodeniaceae) is a charismatic genus of 29 formally named species, of which all but one occur in Western Australia (Western Australian Herbarium 1998–; CHAH 2006). Many produce showy flowers in striking shades of blue, red, orange or yellow making them a popular choice for native gardens. Indeed, the genus has a long horticultural history, first appearing in the glasshouses of Victorian England with the introduction of L. formosa R.Br. to the United Kingdom in 1824 (Step 1897). Even Charles Darwin was fascinated by Lechenaultia, conducting experiments over successive years to understand the pollination mechanism of the unusual cup-like indusium that distinguishes the family Goodeniaceae (Darwin 1861, 1871). Unfortunately, while some species are well known in cultivation many are scarce in the wild, with L. chlorantha F.Muell. listed as Endangered, L. laricina Lindl. as Vulnerable, and a further 11 otherwise considered rare or poorly known (Western Australian Herbarium 1998–; Smith & Jones 2018). The new species described below is one such plant—discovered by William Archer in the Mallee bioregion of southern Western Australia in 2012, only three populations occurring in close proximity have been discovered to date. This species also has horticultural potential as it produces highly attractive, mauve-blue flowers that fancifully resemble a flamenco dancer.