Gnephosis acicularis
| Gnephosis acicularis | |
|---|---|
| Near Morawa | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Gnephosis |
| Species: | G. acicularis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gnephosis acicularis | |
Gnephosis acicularis, commonly known as zigzag gnephosis,[2] is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect annual herb with linear leaves, yellow flowers in egg-shaped heads, and brown, oval cypselas.
Description
Gnephosis acicularis is a erect annual herb with erect stems and branches up to 80–330 mm (3.1–13.0 in) long. Leaves are arranged alternately, sessile, linear, about 3–47 mm (0.12–1.85 in) long and 0.1–0.9 mm (0.0039–0.0354 in) wide. The flowers are arranged in clusters of 6 to 50 in an oval or egg-shaped head 4.2–7 mm (0.17–0.28 in) long and 4–12 mm (0.16–0.47 in) in diameter. There are 15 to 20 bracts in about three rows at the base of the heads. The petals are yellow and form a tube 1.3–1.6 mm (0.051–0.063 in) long and there are five stamens. Flowering has been observed from late September to about mid November and the fruit is a brown achene 0.4–0.5 mm (0.016–0.020 in) long with the pappus about the length of the petals.[3][2]
Taxonomy and naming
Gnephosis acicularis was first formally described in 1867 by George Bentham in his Flora Australiensis from specimens collected by James Drummond.[4][5] The specific epithet (acicularis) means 'needle-pointed', referring to the leaves.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Zigzag gnephosis is only known from sandy, salty soils near salt lakes in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Mallee and Yalgoo bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[2][3]
References
- ^ "Gnephosis acicularis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ a b c "Gnephosis acicularis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b Short, Philip Sydney (2016). "Notes concerning the classification of species included in Calocephalus R.Br. s.lat. and Gnephosis Cass. s.lat. (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae), with descriptions of new genera and species". Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 29: 197–198. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ "Gnephosis acicularis". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 29 May 2025.
- ^ Bentham, George (1867). Flora Australiensis. London: Lovell Reeves & Co. p. 572. Retrieved 30 May 2025.
- ^ George, A.S; Sharr, F.A (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and their meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables. p. 126. ISBN 9780958034197.