Maireana brevifolia | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Maireana |
Species: | M. brevifolia
|
Binomial name | |
Maireana brevifolia | |
Synonyms | |
|
Maireana brevifolia is a shrub that is native to Australia and naturalised in South Africa, the Middle East and the Canary Islands. [1] Common names in Australia include cotton bush, eastern cotton-bush, short-leaf bluebush, small-leaf bluebush and yanga bush. [2] [3] It grows to between 0.2 and 1 metre high. [4] The flower-like fruits are up to 9 mm in diameter and comprise 5 paper-thin wings. [5] It is one of the first species to appear in disturbed saline habitats. [4]
It has been used as a dry-season fodder plant in South Africa [1] and Namibia where it is known as Australian bluebush. [6]