Enekbatus sessilis

Family: Myrtaceae
Distribution:  Sandy soils and sandplains from about Wongan Hills to Kalbarri National Park.
Common Name: No generally accepted common name.
Conservation Status: Not considered to be at risk in the wild.
Derivation of Name: Enekbatus… From Greek enekbatos, without outlet, a reference to the fruit that does not split open to release the seeds (indehiscent).
sessilis… From Latin sessilis, sitting, referring to the lack of a stalk on the flowers (sessile).

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General Description:

Enekbatus is a genus of ten species of small to medium shrubs all of which are endemic to Western Australia.  They are related to Rinzia but are characterised by having an indehiscent fruit (ie. seeds are retained within the fruiting capsule when ripe, unlike related genera). The genus was established in 20101 and includes three species that were previously classified as Baeckea.

Enekbatus sessilis is a low, bushy shrub up to 60-70 cm high. The small leaves are crowded on the stems, are narrowly oval-shaped and usually 1-2 mm long. The white, pink or purple flowers are teatree-like and about 10 mm in diameter.  They occur in late winter and spring on the ends of short branchlets.

As far as is known, species of Enekbatus are unknown in cultivation. E.sessilis could be expected to be hardy in well drained soils in a sunny or partially shaded location.  Tip pruning from an early age will promote a bushy growth habit and more profuse flowering.  It would be expected to tolerate extended dry conditions once established.

Seed should germinate well without pretreatment. Cuttings of firm, current season’s growth can be expected to strike readily.

  1. Trudgen M. E. and Rye B. L. (2010);  Enekbatus, a new Western Australian genus of Myrtaceae with a multi-locular indehiscent fruit. Nuytsia 20: 229–259 (2010)

 

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Enekbatus sessilis
Photo: Kevin Thiele – Australian National Botanic Gardens

 

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