Discovered by Juliet Wege

tyleworts (Levenhookia spp.) are a small but beautiful group of Spint-sized triggerplant () relatives found in the southern temperate and arid zones of . Twelve species are known, all of which are annual herbs with delicate and ornate flowers best observed under magnification. The genus is aptly named after Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723), a Dutch shopkeeper who made optical lenses and bespoke microscopes and made a raft of microscopic discoveries including protists and bacteria. Although largely self-taught, Leeuwenhoek had a curiosity befitting the most practiced scientist and studied almost anything that could be looked at through a lens, such as exploding gunpowder—a feat that almost cost him his sight! Stylewort flowers are works of art. Summer stylewort They have five corolla segments, one of which (the labellum) is hooded over the reproductive parts that are found at the tip of the floral . The labellum is usually Many misidentifications were corrected, aestiva), which is endemic to the adorned with appendages or hairs and is helping to clarify the distribution and south-western corner of . also touch-sensitive, springing backwards conservation status of each species. For Specimens of this eye-catching new rapidly or opening to expose the column, example, we now know that the kwongan species were previously classified under which may exhibit limited movement as a stylewort (Levenhookia murfetii) is not Preiss’s stylewort (Levenhookia preissii), result. Cross-pollination is the primary goal restricted to areas north of Perth but is but close examination of herbarium for some species, with pollen being flung widespread in south-western Australia, its collections, photographs and illustrations from the tip of the column onto insect distribution extending to the Salmon Gums established its distinctness. Although visitors like a catapult, and the stigmatic area. summer stylewort is relatively common, lobes then developing in order to receive Historical herbarium records are also its taxonomic recognition has important pollen from subsequent visitors. In contrast, informing conservation efforts. Hairy conservation implications since Preiss’s some species appear designed for self- stylewort (Levenhookia dubia) is common stylewort is now a relative rarity—only pollination, transferring pollen from the across southern mainland Australia but a handful of collections from the Swan anthers to the stigmatic lobes while the listed as extinct in Tasmania, with some Coastal Plain have been made in the column is still enclosed by the labellum. uncertainty as to whether it was ever past 70 years, either from small bushland Other species hedge their bets, staggering present in this State (the only specimen fragments in Perth or from areas subject to development of their two stigmatic lobes at the Tasmanian Herbarium has no mining. so that self- or cross-pollination is possible. location information associated with it The publication of a revised description Bee-flies and small native bees and have and is therefore considered an unreliable of this species, together with identification been observed transferring pollen between record). However, a rummage through the guides to all species in the genus, is a flowers, although pollination studies are collections at the National Herbarium of critical first step in this process and will aid largely wanting. unearthed collections made in future survey efforts. Styleworts have recently been the mid- to late 1800s from Flinders Island This stylewort research was supported placed under the microscope as part of and near Hobart, confirming its historic by the Australian Biological Resources an Australia-wide taxonomic revision of presence in Tasmania and providing clues Study and is freely available at the triggerplant family (). In that could lead to its rediscovery in the phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/51909/ addition to studying most species in the Apple Isle. wild, more than 1700 stylewort specimens Herbarium-based studies also Above The newly named summer stylewort were examined and verified at herbaria precipitated the discovery and description has bright and intricate flowers. across Australia, proving no job is too small! of the summer stylewort (Levenhookia Photo – Rob Davis

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