Pyracantha fortuneana

Firethorn at Isaacs Ridge

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Identification history

	Pyracantha fortuneana	6 May 2015	MichaelMulvaney
	Pyracantha angustifolia	5 May 2015	Mike

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User's notes

Long Gully Road beside Canberra Centenary Trail. One of several Pyracantha species in the area.

3 comments

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

7 May 2015

The leaves of Pyracantha angustifolia are hairy on the lower surface and more oblong in shape

Mike wrote:

8 May 2015

Thanks Michael, I was going by the white underside of the leaves (at least whiter than other plants) which I was told distinguished P. angustifolia. Now I will add hairiness to the identification criteria. Colour of the fruit doesn't seem to be a distinct identification. Does the length of the stalk help with ID? I have looked at the Plantnet key but it doesn't mention the stalks.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

8 May 2015

Pyracantha angustifolia is the only firethorn in the Canberra region that has hairs on the underside of the leaf, so that is a very good ID feature, the fruit are also always orange, which helps a bit. The difference between the other firethorns is more difficult crenatoserrata usually has a rounded leaf apex as opposed to the acute tip of crenlata and rogersiana. P. crenatoserrata is also more obovate than the other species with the upper 2/3 - 4/5 portion of the leaf blade being the widest section, but leaf shape is not fool or Michael proof. I don't think length of stalk helps

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