Wahlenbergia sp. in Black Hill, Morialta and Horsnell Gully Conservation Parks

CAMPANULACEAE

Wahlenbergia luteola Wildflower Garden
Black Hill CP October 2008

Wahlenbergia sp.
Native bluebells

Named after the Swedish botanist Goran Wahlenberg, 1780 to 1851.

These plants generally have blue flowers with five petals, held on long stems. There are about 200 species around the world, mostly in South Africa and Australia (26 species). We have three species known to grow in out Parks.

• Wahlenbergia gracilenta
• Wahlenbergia luteola
• Wahlenbergia stricta ssp. stricta

Wahlenbergia luteola.
October 2008, Black Hill CP

Wahlenbergia gracilenta: annual bluebell. A small annual plant up to 35cm tall. and distinctive aspects of this plant.

Fire Response
The main way Wahlenbergia gracilenta survives fire is by seeds stored in the soil. While the seeds are short lived, they all germinate with disturbance. A fire will kill any seeds that remain on the plant, which have not been shed into the surrounding soil. There is moderate confidence that a population will survive a fire event, although a low chance of becoming established in a new area, all seed germinates at the same time, so after a fire event, all the plants will be of the same age.

Wahlenbergia luteola: golden bluebell or bronze bluebell. This bluebell is a clumping perenial, growing to about 80 cm tall. The name refers to the yelow/golden colour on the back of the petals. It is a perenial plant growing from a fleshy rootstock.

Wahlenbergia stricta
22 October 2005, Black Hill CP

Wahlenbergia stricta ssp. stricta: tall bluebell. This bluebell is another perenial type which has a fleshy rootstock, and can grow to 90cm tall.

Fire Response
More research is required to understand how Wahlenbergia gracilenta is impacted by fire, whether populations withstand fire events, and if so, the mechanisms it uses to survive and or re-establish after a fire event.

Wahlenbergia stricta 22 October 2005, Black Hill CP

Wahlenbergia stricta 22 October 2005, Black Hill CP

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revised 20 January 2010
Sources: e-Flora of SA.