{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}} {{Speciesbox | image = Crowea saligna (5605881742).jpg | image_caption = ''Crowea saligna'' growing in the Royal National Park | genus = Crowea | species = saligna | authority = Andrews<ref name=APC>{{cite web|title=''Crowea saligna''|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/86846|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=19 November 2020}}</ref> | synonyms_ref = <ref name="APC" /> | synonyms = * ''Crowea latifolia'' <small>Lodd. ex G.Don</small> * ''Crowea macrantha'' <small>Hérincq nom. inval., pro syn.</small> * ''Crowea saligna var. major'' <small>Anon.</small> * ''Crowea saligna'' <small>Andrews</small> var. saligna * ''Crowea saligna var. stricta'' <small>Anon.</small> * ''Eriostemon crowei'' <small>F.Muell. nom. illeg., nom. superfl. p.p.</small> * ''Eriostemon salignum'' <small>Baill. orth. var.</small> * ''Eriostemon salignus'' <small>(Andrews) Baill.</small> }}
'''''Crowea saligna''''', commonly known as '''willow-leaved crowea''', is a plant in the rue family, Rutaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales in Australia. It is a small shrub with attractive, pink, star-shaped flowers and is commonly cultivated.
==Description== ''Crowea saligna'' is a small shrub usually growing to a height of about {{convert|1-1.5|m|ft|sigfig=1}} with conspicuously angled branches. The leaves are {{convert|30-60|mm|in|sigfig=1}}, {{convert|3-13|mm|in|sigfig=1}} wide and are narrow elliptic to lance-shaped. They are also dark green, shiny, dotted with oil glands and there is a distinct mid-vein.<ref name=Carolin>{{cite book|last1=Roger|first1=Carolin|last2=Tindale|first2=Mary|title=Flora of the Sydney region|date=1994|publisher=Reed|location=Chatswood, NSW|isbn=0730104001|page=438|edition=4th}}</ref><ref name=RBGS>{{cite web|last1=Porteners|first1=M.F.|last2=Weston|first2=P.H.|title=Crowea saligna|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Crowea~saligna|publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, plantnet|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref><ref name=ANPSA>{{cite web|title=Crowea saligna|url=http://anpsa.org.au/c-sal.html|publisher=Australian Native Plants Society Australia|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref>
The flowers develop in the axils of leaves on a stalk 5-13 millimetres (<1/2 inch) long. There are 5 short, broad sepals and 5 overlapping petals forming a "star" shape. The petals are pink, sometimes white and are 12-18 millimetres (1/2-1 inch) long. The stamens are hairy and enclose the centre of the flower. The flowers appear from January to June and the fruits that follow are dry and have 5 compartments which open to release 2 seeds each.<ref name="Carolin" /><ref name="RBGS" /><ref name="ANPSA" />
==Taxonomy and naming== ''Crowea saligna'' was first formally described in 1800 by Henry Cranke Andrews. The description was published in ''The Botanist's Repository for New, and Rare Plants''.<ref name=APNI>{{cite web|title=''Crowea saligna''|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/506553|publisher=APNI|accessdate=20 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=Andrews>{{cite book |last1=Andrews|first1=Henry C. |author-link=Henry Cranke Andrews |title=The Botanists Repository for New and Rare Plants Volume 2|date=1800|page=79|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/109209#page/15/mode/1up|accessdate=19 November 2015}}</ref> The specific epithet (''saligna'') is a Latin word meaning " of willow".<ref name="RWB">{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page=857}}</ref>
==Distribution and habitat== Willow-leaved crowea occurs in Sydney between Woy Woy and Yerrinbool and on the adjacent Blue Mountains. It grows in sheltered locations on sandstone.<ref name="Carolin" /><ref name="RBGS" />
==Use in horticulture== ''Crowea saligna'' is widely cultivated due to its attractive flowers that appear when most other species are dormant. It prefers a well-drained position in sun or semi shade. It grows best in moist soils but will tolerate extended dry periods once established.<ref name="ANPSA" /><ref name=Wrigley>{{cite book|last1=Wrigley|first1=John W.|last2=Fagg|first2=Murray|title=Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping|date=1983|publisher=Collins|location=Sydney|isbn=0002165759|page=203|edition=2nd}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3005458}}
Category:Flora of New South Wales Category:Sapindales of Australia Category:Plants described in 1800 Category:Zanthoxyloideae Category:Taxa named by Henry Cranke Andrews