# Levenhookia

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***Levenhookia***, also known as the **styleworts**, is a genus of ten recognized species in the family [Stylidiaceae](/source/Stylidiaceae) and is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Australia](/source/Australia). The genus is restricted to [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia) almost exclusively with a few exceptions: *[L. pusilla](/source/Levenhookia_pusilla)*'s range extends into [South Australia](/source/South_Australia), *[L. dubia](/source/Levenhookia_dubia)*'s range extends through South Australia into [Victoria](/source/Victoria_(Australia)) and [New South Wales](/source/New_South_Wales), *[L. sonderi](/source/Levenhookia_sonderi)* is native only to Victoria, and *[L. chippendalei](/source/Levenhookia_chippendalei)* is also found in the [Northern Territory](/source/Northern_Territory).[1][2]

All species of *Levenhookia* possess a sensitive [labellum](/source/Labellum_(botany)) that performs a similar function to the [column](/source/Column_(botany)) of *Stylidium* species. The labellum responds to touch and enables the plants to promote cross-pollination and avoid self-pollination. Most species of *Levenhookia* are [ephemeral plants](/source/Ephemeral_plant) that prefer sand [heath](/source/Heath_(habitat)) habitat.[2] *Levenhookia* species also possess glandular [trichomes](/source/Trichome) similar to those of its sister genus, *Stylidium*. While no studies have been done to test *Levenhookia* for [carnivory](/source/Carnivorous_plant), it is plausible that they are carnivorous plants like the related *Stylidium* species.[3]

## Evolution and taxonomy

The genus is known to be closely related to the genus *[Stylidium](/source/Stylidium)*. Specifically, the [subgenus](/source/Subgenus) *[Centridium](/source/Stylidium_subg._Centridium)* is the subgeneric taxonomy in the genus *Stylidium* that appears to be most closely related to *Levenhookia* and most suggests an ancestral relationship.[2] [Sherwin Carlquist](/source/Sherwin_Carlquist) notes that *Levenhookia* is most likely a derivative of *Stylidium* and has relied on outcropping as its mode of evolution. The species in this genus represent a series from *[L. preissii](/source/Levenhookia_preissii)*, which requires cross pollination for reproduction, to *L. dubia*, which relies on facultative self-pollination.[2] In an earlier publication, [Rica Erickson](/source/Rica_Erickson) described this series in reverse, suggesting that path as the evolutionary sequence.[4] Several species of *Stylidium* have also been noted to mimic flower morphology of certain *Levenhookia* species to utilize similar available pollinators. Specifically, *[S. xanthopis](/source/Stylidium_xanthopis)* mimics *[L. leptantha](/source/Levenhookia_leptantha)* and *[S. ecorne](/source/Stylidium_ecorne)* mimics *[L. pauciflora](/source/Levenhookia_pauciflora)*.[2]

Three [sections](/source/Rank_(botany)) have been established and described by [Johannes Mildbraed](/source/Johannes_Mildbraed) in 1908 to separate the subgeneric taxonomy in this genus. Section *[Coleostylis](/source/Levenhookia_sect._Coleostylis)* consists of *L. chippendalei*,[1] *L. preissii*, *[L. stipitata](/source/Levenhookia_stipitata)*, and possibly *[L. octomaculata](/source/Levenhookia_octomaculata)*, which Erickson described in 1956, noting its affinities with *L. stipitata* but without placing it in a section.[5] Section *[Estipitatae](/source/Levenhookia_sect._Estipitatae)* consists of *L. dubia*, *L. leptantha*, and *L. sonderi*, which was considered by Mildbraed to be a [variety](/source/Variety_(botany)) of *L. dubia*. Section *[Levenhookia](/source/Levenhookia_sect._Levenhookia)* consists of *L. pusilla* and *L. pauciflora*, though it could also contain *[L. pulcherrima](/source/Levenhookia_pulcherrima)*, which Carlquist described in 1969 and noted its close association to the other two species in section *Levenhookia* but neglected to place it within a section.[2] Section *Levenhookia* was originally described by Mildbraed as section *Eulevenhookia*, which was later changed to the current section title *Levenhookia* as an [autonym](/source/Autonym_(botany)) since it is the [type](/source/Biological_type) section.[6][7]

## References

1. Erickson, R. and Willis, J.H. (1966). Some additions to Australian Stylidiaceae. *Victorian Naturalist*, 83: 107-112.

1. Carlquist, S. (1969). Studies in Stylidiaceae: New taxa, field observations, evolutionary tendencies. *Aliso*, 7(1): 13-64.

1. Darnowski, D.W., Carroll, D.M., Płachno, B., Kabanoff, E., and Cinnamon, E. (2006). [Evidence of protocarnivory in triggerplants (*Stylidium* spp.; Stylidiaceae)](http://www.thieme-connect.com/ejournals/abstract/plantbiology/doi/10.1055/s-2006-924472). *Plant Biology*, 8(6): 805-812.

1. Erickson, R. (1958). *Triggerplants*. Paterson Brokensha Pty., Ltd., Perth, Australia.

1. Erickson, R. and Willis, J.H. (1956). Critical notes on Australian Stylidiaceae, with descriptions of three new species and two new varieties. *The Victorian Naturalist*, 72: 130-136.

1. Mildbraed, J. (1908). Stylidiaceae. In: Engler, A. *Das Pflanzenreich: Regni vegetabilis conspectus*. IV. 278. Leipzig.

1. The International Plant Names Index (2004). [*Levenhookia* sect. *Eulevenhookia* Mildbr.](http://www.ipni.org/ipni/idPlantNameSearch.do?id=76735-3&back_page=%2Fipni%2FeditAdvPlantNameSearch.do%3Ffind_infragenus%3D%26find_isAPNIRecord%3Dtrue%26find_geoUnit%3D%26find_includePublicationAuthors%3Dtrue%26find_addedSince%3D%26find_family%3D%26find_genus%3DLevenhookia%26find_sortByFamily%3Dtrue%26find_isGCIRecord%3Dtrue%26find_infrafamily%3D%26find_rankToReturn%3Dall%26find_publicationTitle%3D%26find_authorAbbrev%3D%26find_infraspecies%3D%26find_includeBasionymAuthors%3Dtrue%26find_modifiedSince%3D%26find_isIKRecord%3Dtrue%26find_species%3D%26output_format%3Dnormal&show_history=true) Accessed 11 August 2007.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Levenhookia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levenhookia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levenhookia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.