Boronia

Boronia
Boronia fraseri, Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve, NSW
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Sapindales
Family:	Rutaceae
Subfamily:	Rutoideae
Genus:	Boronia Sm.
Species
See text
Synonyms
Cyanothamnus Lindl.

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Boronia is a genus of about 160 species of flowering plants in the citrus family Rutaceae, all of which are endemic in Australia. They occur in all Australian states but the genus is under review and a number of species are yet to be described or the description published. Boronias are similar to familiar plants in the genera Zieria, Eriostemon and Correa but can be distinguished from them by the number of petals or stamens. Some species have a distinctive fragrance and are popular garden plants.

Description

Plants in the genus Boronia are nearly always shrubs although a very small number occur as herbs or as small trees. The leaves are usually arranged in opposite pairs and may be simple leaves or compound leaves with up to nineteen or more leaflets, in either a pinnate or bipinnate arrangement. The flowers are arranged in groups in the leaf axils or on the ends of the branches and have both male and female parts. There are usually five separate sepals, five separate petals and eight stamens. (In Zieria there are only four stamens, Eriostemon species have five petals and in Correa the petals are joined to form a bell-shaped tube.) There are four carpels with their styles fused and there are two ovules in each carpel.^[1][2]

Boronia algida

Boronia imlayensis

Taxonomy and naming

The genus Boronia was first formally described in 1798 by James Edward Smith and the description was published in Tracts Relating to Natural History.^[3][4] The name Boronia honours Francesco Borone (1769 - 1794), Italian naturalist and plant collector, who assisted John Sibthorp in Greece and Turkey, Adam Afzelius in Sierra Leone and James Edward Smith during his European tour in 1787.^[5][6]

Boronia, an outer suburb of Melbourne in Australia was named after a boronia found growing in the area.

Distribution and habitat

Boronias are found in all states and mainland territories of Australia and generally grow in open forests or woodlands, only rarely in rainforests or arid areas.^[1][2]

Use in horticulture

Boronias, especially B. megastigma, are known for their perfumed flowers. Unfortunately, they are generally somewhat difficult to grow in cultivation. All species require excellent drainage and part shade.^[7]

Species include:

References