Geleznowia verrucosa species complex (yellow bells)

Aim: Conservation Genomics
Project initiation: Aug 2020
Project lead: Kelly Shepherd | Dept of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), State Government of Western Australia

Geleznowia amabilis. Reproduced with permission from Kelly Shepherd.


Project description:

Geleznowia, commonly called ‘Yellow Bells’, is a small genus of floristically spectacular shrubs that is targeted by the cut flower industry in the northern sandplains and adjacent wheatbelt regions of Western Australia. The genus consists of two species (G. verrucosa and G. amabilis), two phrase-named taxa (G. sp. Binnu and G. sp. Marchagee), and at least three unresolved forms (G. sp. ‘mini hairy’, G. sp. ‘White Peak’ and G. sp. ‘White Gums NR’). Most of these taxa are poorly known and of conservation concern.

Resolution of this complex will provide detailed descriptive information of all species for land managers, botanical consultants, DBCA personnel and wildflower enthusiasts to enable field identification and facilitate effective survey. This will help clarify the conservation status for all Geleznowia species, ensuring that appropriate conservation management is enacted by DBCA and that the impacts of commercial harvesting are minimised.