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Abrotanella caespitosa

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Abrotanella caespitosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Abrotanella
Species:
A. caespitosa
Binomial name
Abrotanella caespitosa

Abrotanella caespitosa is a member of the daisy family and is an endemic species of New Zealand.[1]

Description

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Abrotanella caespitosa forms a loose cushion habit with runners that have distant scale leaves. It has narrower leaves compared to its close relatives and lacks a waxy bloom on its leaves.[2]

Distribution and habitat

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The species is found in the South Island and southern North Island of New Zealand.[3] It grows in alpine herbfield habitats.[2]

Taxonomy and evolution

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Abrotanella caespitosa is closely related to A. inconspicua, A. nivigena (from Australia), and A. patearoa. These four species form a well-supported clade and have almost identical DNA sequences, suggesting they diverged within the last 500,000 years. Abrotanella caespitosa is part of a radiation of Abrotanella species that occurred during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, associated with mountain building and glaciation episodes.[2]

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References

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  1. ^ Kew Science Plants of the World Online, retrieved 26 June 2020
  2. ^ a b c Wagstaff, Steven J.; Breitwieser, Ilse; Swenson, Ulf (2006). "Origin and relationships of the austral genus Abrotanella (Asteraceae) inferred from DNA sequences". Taxon. 55 (1): 95–106. doi:10.2307/25065531. JSTOR 25065531.
  3. ^ "Abrotanella caespitosa Fact Sheet". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 28 September 2024.