# Stirlingia > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stirlingia > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Stirlingia.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirlingia > Source revision: 1328673435 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) ***Stirlingia***, commonly known as **blueboy**, is a genus of 7 species in the family [Proteaceae](/source/Proteaceae), all of which are endemic to [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia). ## Description *Stirlingia* grows as a shrub or [herb](/source/Herb) arising from a perennial [tap root](/source/Tap_root) or woody root stock; the herbaceous nature of some species is unique to *Stirlingia* among the [Proteaceae](/source/Proteaceae). They grow to heights ranging from 10 centimetres (3.9 in) to 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). Leaves are soft and leathery, and bifurcated along their length. They occur mostly on lower parts of the stems. Flowers occur in [inflorescences](/source/Inflorescence) that are either heads or very short spikes.[1][2] ## Taxonomy The genus was first published by [Robert Brown](/source/Robert_Brown_(botanist,_born_1773)) in 1810, under the name *Simsia*. Brown initially published two species, *Simsia anethifolia* and *Simsia tenuifolia*, adding a third, *Simsia latifolia* in 1830. It was later discovered that Brown's generic name was illegal, as the name *[Simsia](/source/Simsia)* had already been published in 1807 by [Christian Hendrik Persoon](/source/Christian_Hendrik_Persoon). Therefore, in 1838 [Stephan Endlicher](/source/Stephan_Endlicher) published a new name for the genus. He chose the name *Stirlingia*, in honour of [James Stirling](/source/James_Stirling_(Australian_governor)), explorer of the [Swan River](/source/Swan_River,_Western_Australia) and first [Governor of Western Australia](/source/Governor_of_Western_Australia).[3] Despite publishing a new name for the genus, Endlicher omitted to formally transfer Brown's three species. In 1838, [John Lindley](/source/John_Lindley) published two more names, *Stirlingia paniculata* and *[Stirlingia simplex](/source/Stirlingia_simplex)*. Two years later Endlicher transferred *Simsia anethifolia* to *[Stirlingia anethifolia](/source/Stirlingia_anethifolia)*, and [Ernst Steudel](/source/Ernst_Steudel) transferred the other two of Brown's species, as *[Stirlingia latifolia](/source/Stirlingia_latifolia)* and *[Stirlingia tenuifolia](/source/Stirlingia_tenuifolia)*.[3] Two more species, *[Stirlingia abrotanoides](/source/Stirlingia_abrotanoides)* and *[Stirlingia teretifolia](/source/Stirlingia_teretifolia)*, were published by [Carl Meissner](/source/Carl_Meissner) in 1845. In 1848, some confusion was caused by an orthographic error in a work of Endlicher's, referring to *Stirlingia anethifolia* as *Stirlingia acutifolia*. Also that year, Meissner published an eighth species, *Stirlingia affinis*. He continued to publish new species publishing *Stirlingia capillifolia* in 1855, and *Stirlingia intricata* in 1856.[3] In 1870, [George Bentham](/source/George_Bentham) published a treatment of the *Stirlingia* in his *[Flora Australiensis](/source/Flora_Australiensis)*, reducing the number of species to five, plus one variety: *S. simplex*, *S. abrotanoides*, *S. teretifolia*, *S. tenuifolia*, *S. tenuifolia* var. *anethifolia*, and *S. latifolia*. Fourteen years later, [Ferdinand von Mueller](/source/Ferdinand_von_Mueller) somewhat disrupted the nomenclature of the genus by proposing to revert to the name *Simsia*, publishing *Simsia abrotanoides*, *Simsia teretifolia* and *Simsia simplex* for the first time. This was accepted as late as 1921, when [Carl Ostenfeld](/source/Carl_Ostenfeld) published a further variety under *Simsia*, *Simsia latifolia* var. *gracilis*. In 1923, however, [Karel Domin](/source/Karel_Domin) published a new species under *Stirlingia* as *[Stirlingia seselifolia](/source/Stirlingia_seselifolia)*.[3] In 1995, [Alex George](/source/Alex_George_(botanist)) published a thorough treatment of the *Stirlingia* for the *[Flora of Australia](/source/Flora_of_Australia_(series))* series of monographs. He reduced numerous names to synonymy, and published a further new species, *[Stirlingia divaricatissima](/source/Stirlingia_divaricatissima)*.[3] ## Species Seven species are currently recognised: Image Scientific name Distribution Stirlingia abrotanoides Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. Stirlingia anethifolia Western Australia Stirlingia divaricatissima Western Australia Stirlingia latifolia Southwest Botanical Province, ranging from Kalbarri in the north, south to Albany Stirlingia seselifolia South West and Great Southern regions of Western Australia Stirlingia simplex Southwest Botanic Province of Western Australia Stirlingia tenuifolia Western Australia No infrageneric arrangement has been proffered.[2] This genus is placed alone in subtribe **Stirlingiinae**, within the tribe [Conospermeae](/source/Conospermeae) of the subfamily [Proteoideae](/source/Proteoideae).[4] The common name **Blueboy** is used sometimes for the genus, but most often refers to the species *[S. latifolia](/source/Stirlingia_latifolia)*. The name comes from the fact that wall plaster turns blue if made using sand taken from where *S. latifolia* occurs.[5] ## Distribution and habitat They are endemic to the [Southwest Botanical Province](/source/Southwest_Botanical_Province) of [Western Australia](/source/Western_Australia). They occur in a range of soil types, including sand, clay, and [laterite](/source/Laterite); most species prefer low-lying areas that are seasonally wet.[1] ## Ecology Although none of the species are declared rare, *S. divaricatissima* has been declared "Priority Three - Poorly Known Taxa" on the [Department of Environment and Conservation](/source/Department_of_Environment_and_Conservation_(Western_Australia))'s [Declared Rare and Priority Flora List](/source/Declared_Rare_and_Priority_Flora_List).[6] ## References 1. ["Australian Plant Name Index (APNI)"](http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni). *IBIS database*. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. 1. Weston, Peter H. & Barker, Nigel P. (2006). "A new suprageneric classification of the Proteaceae, with an annotated checklist of genera". *Telopea*. **11** (3): 314–344. [doi:10.7751/telopea20065733](https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea20065733) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Stirlingia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirlingia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirlingia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.