Cratystylis conocephala
| 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
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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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^ 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.