Dampiera wellsiana is a herb in the family of Goodeniaceae and is one of approximately 70 species of Dampiera.Ghisalberti, E. L. (2004). The Goodeniaceae. Fitoterapia, [online] 75(5), pp.429–446. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021]. Dampiera wellsiana is native to Western Australia.George, A. S. and Australian Biological Resources Study (1992). Flora of Australia. Volume 35, Brunoniaceae, Goodeniaceae. [online] Canberra: Australian Govt. Pub. Service. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021]. It is a non-threatened, stoloniferous plant and is often defined by its small blue petals and the arid climate it grows in. Botanist Ferdinand von Mueller first described the plant in 1876.Puccio, P. and Beltramini, M. (n.d.). Dampiera wellsiana. [online] Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2021].

Etymology The genus name Dampiera was derived from William Dampier (1652-1715). Dampier was the first Englishman to explore Western Australia and collect native plants, including Dampiera wellsiana.Ghisalberti, E. L. (2004). The Goodeniaceae. Fitoterapia, [online] 75(5), pp.429–446. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021]. It is commonly known as Well's Dampiera.Keighery, G., Keighery, B. and Wildflower Society of WA (2013). Elachbutting Reserve Vegetation and Flora - A Preliminary Report. [Accessed 24 Apr. 2021].

The species is dedicated to botanist Julia Wells (1842-1911), who is notable for having collected botanical specimens in the wheatbelt region of Western Australia.Puccio, P. and Beltramini, M. (n.d.). Dampiera wellsiana. [online] Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2021].

Description Dampiera wellsiana is a floriferous, evergreen herb that ranges between 5 and 30 cm tall and is a perennial herb with a lifespan of over two years.George, A. S. and Australian Biological Resources Study (1992). Flora of Australia. Volume 35, Brunoniaceae, Goodeniaceae. [online] Canberra: Australian Govt. Pub. Service. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021].Carolin, R. C ., Stajsic, V., Rajput, M. T. M ., Morrison, D . (2021) Goodeniaceae, in P.G. Kodela (ed.), Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. [Accessed: 25 April 2021] Over time, the plant can grow to over and its inflorescence is largely contained on the above-ground body of the plant.Jabaily, R.S., Shepherd, K.A., Gustafsson, M.H.G., Sage, L.W., Krauss, S.L., Howarth, D.G. and Motley, T.J. (2012). Systematics of the Austral-Pacific family Goodeniaceae: Establishing a taxonomic and evolutionary framework. TAXON, [online] 61(2), pp.419–436. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021].‌ The leaves are flat and smooth, 2–7 cm long and 9-40mm wide.Hollister, C . and Thiele, K. R . (2021). Dampiera wellsiana. [online]

FloraBase - The Western Australia Flora [Accessed 21 Apr. 2021]. The leaf stem (petiole) is 6 cm long and unribbed with tufted hairs around its exterior and the leaves and stems are a dark green colour.George, A. S. and Australian Biological Resources Study (1992). Flora of Australia. Volume 35, Brunoniaceae, Goodeniaceae. [online] Canberra: Australian Govt. Pub. Service. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021]. The flowers gather in loose heads in thick inflorescences with thin pale to dark blue petals. These range from 2.5 to 5.8 mm long center petals to 4.5–6 mm long outer petals.Spooner, A., Hollister, C. and Thiele, K.R. (2021). Dampiera wellsiana F.Muell. Wells’ Dampiera. [online] FloraBase. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2021]. The flowers have glandular, simple hairs on the exterior with dense tufts in the center.Hollister, C . and Thiele, K. R . (2021). Dampiera wellsiana. [online] FloraBase - The Western Australia Flora. [Accessed 21 Apr. 2021]. The petals serve as primary protection to the plant's androecium and gynoecium, the female and male reproductive organs.Jabaily, R. S., Shepherd, K. A., Gustafsson, M. H. G., Sage, L.W., Krauss, S. L., Howarth, D. G. and Motley, T. J. (2012). Systematics of the Austral-Pacific family Goodeniaceae: Establishing a taxonomic and evolutionary framework. TAXON, [online] 61(2), pp.419–436. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021].

Ecology The flowers are morphologically designed to be pollinated by insects, including bees.Carolin, R.C., Stajsic, V., Rajput, M.T.M. and Morrison, D. (2019). Goodeniaceae R.Br. [online] Flora of Australia. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021].

‌ When an insect probes to the bottom of the flower where the nectar is contained, the hairs around the indusium are agitated by the insect, thus releasing pollen onto the insect's body.‌‌Carolin, R.C., Stajsic, V., Rajput, M.T.M. and Morrison, D. (2019). Goodeniaceae R.Br. [online] Flora of Australia. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021]. The pollen is held on a thin membranous covering (indusium) when the flower opens, however, the pollen collection by the indusium is rather inefficient, and the pollen is often found around the outside of the indusium.‌‌Carolin, R.C., Stajsic, V., Rajput, M.T.M. and Morrison, D. (2019). Goodeniaceae R.Br. [online] Flora of Australia. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021].

Dampiera wellsiana fruits are also indehiscent, meaning the pod or fruit does not split open to release its seed when it is ripe.‌‌Carolin, R.C., Stajsic, V., Rajput, M.T.M. and Morrison, D. (2019). Goodeniaceae R.Br. [online] Flora of Australia. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021].

Distribution and habitat Dampiera wellsiana is endemic to South-western Australia. The herb can be found in the Beard's Provinces, IBRA Regions, IBRA Subregions and Local Government Areas such as Bruce Rock, Coolgardie, Coorow and Mount Marshall.Spooner, A., Hollister, C. and Thiele, K.R. (2021). Dampiera wellsiana F.Muell. Wells’ Dampiera. [online] FloraBase. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2021]. Since 1848, Dampiera wellsiana has had a total of 268 occurrences with most through the months of September, October and November and the least in the winter months between March and June.Hassler, M . (2021). Dampiera wellsiana F.Muell. [online] www.gbif.org. [Accessed 25 Apr. 2021]. This species of herb can only reproduce during a period of consistent humidity and within a temperature between 20 and 24 °C.Puccio, P. and Beltramini, M. (n.d.). Dampiera wellsiana. [online] Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2021]. It flowers in the spring and summer months of August, September, October, November and December.Hollister, C . and Thiele, K. R . (2021). Dampiera wellsiana. [online] FloraBase - The Western Australia Flora. [Accessed 21 Apr. 2021].

Dampiera wellsiana requires a highly specific habitat to grow, requiring dry clay, stone and sandy soils in mostly flat shrublands with very low vegetation.Keighery, G., Keighery, B. and Wildflower Society of WA (2013). Elachbutting Reserve Vegetation and Flora - A Preliminary Report. [online] . [Accessed 24 Apr. 2021]. Aboriginals traditionally call this specific type of land kwongan.Hopper, S. D . (n.d.). Kwongan and why it matters. [online] The University of Western Australia. [Accessed 25 Apr. 2021]. Dampiera wellsiana also relies on a climate of hot, dry summers and mild winters with little rainfall.Puccio, P. and Beltramini, M. (n.d.). Dampiera wellsiana. [online] Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2021]. It is often found in frequently burnt or cleared areas, as they are dry areas with low vegetation.George, A. S. and Australian Biological Resources Study (1992). Flora of Australia. Volume 35, Brunoniaceae, Goodeniaceae. [online] Canberra: Australian Govt. Pub. Service. [Accessed 22 Mar. 2021]. After a fire, fructification also usually increases in Dampiera wellsiana as a result of these arid conditions.Puccio, P. and Beltramini, M. (n.d.). Dampiera wellsiana. [online] Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2021].

Uses and cultivation Dampiera wellsiana is an inflorescence and can be used for ornamental purposes, such as indoor decoration.Elliot, W. R. and Jones, D. L. (1986). Encyclopaedia of Australian plants : suitable for cultivation. Melbourne Lothian. The plant is not often cultivated, however it is proven suitable for rocky and desert gardens. Dampiera wellsiana is cultivated under full sunlight or under slight shade and gritty, sandy and acidic soils that provide a sufficient amount of water drainage.Puccio, P. and Beltramini, M. (n.d.). Dampiera wellsiana. [online] Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. [Accessed 21 Mar. 2021]. For ornamental and plant health purposes, the plant is lightly pruned.Elliot, W. R. and Jones, D. L. (1986). Encyclopaedia of Australian plants : suitable for cultivation. Melbourne Lothian. Several species within the Goodeniaceae family are used for medicinal and environmental purposes, however Dampiera wellsiana does not hold these properties.

References