| Cratystylis conocephala | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Cratystylis |
| Species: | C. conocephala
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cratystylis conocephala | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
|
List
| |
Cratystylis conocephala, the blue bush daisy, blue bush, grey bush, and round leaved greybush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to southeast Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, and Victoria. [1] [2] [3] It is a densely branched, spreading shrub. [4] [5] [6] The species is listed as endangered in New South Wales and critically endangered in Victoria. [6] [5]
Description
It is a silver to blue-grey shrub which grows erectly to a height range of 0.7-1.8m. [6] The stems are erect, woody and densely arranged and forms a gnarled trunk. [6] [7] The bark is fibrous, with younger stems covered densely in short, matted, wooly hairs. [5] [6]
Leaves are wedge-shaped to oval shaped and have a prominent midvein [6] and are grey and wooly on both sides. [7] Leaves are 4-10 mm long and 2-5 mm wide. [7] [6] [5]
Flowerheads are 12-15mm long and 3-8mm in diameter [6] and are stalkless. [8] Obtuse involucral bracts are 3-7mm long, green and sparsely hairy. [5] [6] Florets 4-6; corollas 10-12mm long and white in colour. [6] [5] Achenes 3-4mm long when not fully developed (abortive) and 6-7mm when fertile. [6] [5]
Flowering time occurs from September to December. [6] [7]
Ecology
C. conocephala is found on calcareous red soils [6] and sandy soils [5] in different ecosystem types. These include mallee, coastal scrub and woodland vegetation communities. [7] Blue bush daisy proliferates in ecosystems which have not been exposed to fire for extended periods of time.
Distribution
Cratystylus conocephala is found in the IBRA ( Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia) of Coolgardie, Hampton, Mallee (Victoria), Mallee and Nullarbor. [4] on calcerous red soils [6] and sandy soils [5] in Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, New South Wales and Victoria. The species is very rare in the Southern Far Western Plains of New South Wales, [8] and Belah Woodlands of North West Victoria. [5] It is found to grow in mallee, coastal scrub and woodland vegetation communities. [7]
References
- ^ a b "Cratystylis conocephala (F.Muell.) S.Moore". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
- ^ "Factsheet - Cratystylis conocephala". keys.lucidcentral.org. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ Archer, William (2014-11-06). "Esperance Wildflowers: Cratystylis conocephala – Round-leaved Greybush". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
- ^ a b Western Australian Herbarium, Biodiversity and Conservation Science. "Florabase—the Western Australian Flora". florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Flora of Victoria". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "PlantNET - FloraOnline". plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
- ^ a b c d e f "Fact sheet for Cratystylis conocephala". flora.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
- ^ a b "Bluebush Daisy - profile | NSW Environment, Energy and Science". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-19.