Philotheca spicata

Common name: Pepper and Salt

Meaning of name:

Philotheca is from the Greek words psilos, meaning naked or bald, and thece, meaning covering or box. Spicata is from the Latin word spica, meaning point or flower-spike.

Distribution:

Occurs in western parts of the southwest of Western Australia.

Description:

A perennial to 60 centimetres tall. The pink to mauve flowers are produced from June to October.

Notes:

This species was previously known as Eriostemon spicatus.

Associations:

Castiarina picta has been seen feeding on the flowers.

References:

Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.

Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.

Atlas of Living Australia https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2886300

Florabase https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/18529