Conospermum stoechadis

Common Smokebush
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
Order:	Proteales
Family:	Proteaceae
Genus:	Conospermum
Species:	C. stoechadis
Binomial name
Conospermum stoechadis Endl.

Conospermum stoechadis, commonly known as Common Smokebush,^[1] is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.

Description

It grows as an erect, multi-stemmed shrub, with a lignotuber, from 0.3 to two metres high. It has slender needle-like leaves from two to 17 centimetres long and 0.6 to 2.25 millimetres wide, and panicles of white or grey flowers.^[1][2]

Taxonomy

It was first published in 1838 by Stephan Endlicher, based on material collected by Charles von Hügel from the vicinity of King George Sound.^[3] It has since had a fairly involved taxonomic history. In 1839, John Lindley published a purported new species, C. sclerophyllum, but this has since been demoted to a subspecies of C. stoechadis.^[4][5] In 1848, Carl Meissner published C. canaliculatum; this was demoted to a variety of C. stoechadis by George Bentham in 1870, but has since between restored to specific rank.^[6][7] In 1919, Michel Gandoger published two new species, C. elegantulum and C. proximum, but both of these have since been found to be synonymous with C. stoechadis.^[8][9] In each case, the current status was designated by Eleanor Bennett's 1995 treatment of Conospermum for the Flora of Australia series of monographs.

There are two subspecies: C. stoechadis subsp. sclerophyllum and the autonym C. stoechadis subsp. stoechadis.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

It occurs on sand and laterite, on sandplains throughout the Southwest Botanic Province, and also east as far as Southern Cross.^[1][2]

Ecology

It is not considered threatened.^[1]

References