Conospermum eatoniae, commonly known as blue lace,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the familyProteaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a spreading shrub with egg-shaped leaves only present on young plants, and panicles of glabrous blue, tube-shaped flowers with pale green bracteoles.
Description
Conospermum eatoniae is a spreading, much-branched shrub that typically grows up to 0.3–0.75 m (1 ft 0 in – 2 ft 6 in) tall and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) wide. Egg-shaped to oblong leaves are only present at the base of young plants. The flowers are arranged in panicles with secondary dichotomous branching, ending in a head of 2 to 10 flowers. The bracteoles are more or less round, 1.8–2.8 mm (0.071–0.110 in) long, 2.5–3.8 mm (0.098–0.150 in) wide, and pale green. The perianth is blue, forming a tube 1.5–4 mm (0.059–0.157 in) long. The upper lip is egg-shaped, 3.5–5 mm (0.14–0.20 in) long and 1.0–1.7 mm (0.039–0.067 in) wide, the lower lip joined for 1.3–2.5 mm (0.051–0.098 in) long with lobes 1.5–2.0 mm (0.059–0.079 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to October, and the fruit is a nut about 2 mm (0.079 in) long and 1.8 mm (0.071 in) wide and with velvety orange hairs.[3][4]
This species of Conospermum is listed as Priority Three by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife,[3] meaning that it is poorly known, and known from only a few locations but is not under imminent threat.[8]
^ abBennett, Edith M. "Conospermum eatiniae". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Canberra. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
^George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 189. ISBN9780958034180.
