Howittia


Howittia is a plant genus that contains just one species, Howittia trilocularis, 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.

Distribution

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