Swamp daisy
Undescribed Albany daisy, Actinodium sp. 'Fitzgerald River'
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Actinodium
Schauer[1]
Species:
A. cunninghamii
Binomial name
Actinodium cunninghamii
Schauer[2]
Synonyms[2]

Actinodium cunninghamii, commonly known as swamp daisy or Albany daisy,[3] is the only formally described species in the genus of flowering plants in the family Myrtaceae, Actinodium and is endemic to Western Australia.

Description

Actinodium cunninghamii is a small, compact shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 30 cm (12 in) with leaves about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide. The flowers are borne in pinkish-brown, daisy-like heads 20–30 mm (0.79–1.18 in) in diameter. The heads are made up of tiny, bell-shaped flowers surrounded by sterile, strap-like ray flowers.[4][5]

A related, but as yet undescribed species presently given the name Actinodium sp. 'Fitzgerald River' and also commonly known as Albany daisy, is a sparsely-branched shrub up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high with leaves 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, the heads pink and white and 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) wide. This species is more common than A. cunninghamii.[4][6]

Taxonomy

The genus Actinodium was first formally described in 1836 by Johannes Conrad Schauer in the journal Linnaea, Ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange[7][8] and Schauer later described Actinodium cunninghamii in John Lindley's A Natural System of Botany from specimens collected by Allan Cunningham.[9][10] The genus name is derived from Greek and means "like the spokes of a wheel".[6][11]

Distribution and habitat

Actinodium cunninghamii grows in moist, sandy soil in forest and kwongan and is uncommon in nature. Both species of Actinodium usually grow in winter-wet depressions in near-coastal areas near Albany in the south-west of Western Australia.[4][5][12]

Use in horticulture

Actinodium sp. 'Fitzgerald River' (sometimes as A. cunninghamii) has been grown in gardens but is a short-lived plant requiring good drainage and a sheltered position. It can be propagated from cuttings.[6][13]

Cultural references

An image of A. cunninghamii was engraved for an Australian Stamp in 1985.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Actinodium". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Actinodium cunninghamii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Actinodium cunninghamii". Australian Plants on Postage Stamps. Australian National Herbarium ANBG symbol. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 Corrick, Margaret G.; Fuhrer, Bruce A. (2009). Wildflowers of southern Western Australia (3rd ed.). Kenthurst, N.S.W.: Rosenberg Pub. pp. 110–111. ISBN 9781877058844.
  5. 1 2 "Actinodium cunninghamii Schauer". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  6. 1 2 3 "Actinodium sp. 'Fitzgerald River'". Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "Actinodium". APNI. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Schauer, Johannes C. (1836). "Genera Chamaelauciearum Nova Quaedam". Linnaea: Ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde. 10: 311. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Actinodium". APNI. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Schauer, Johannes C. (1836). Lindley, John (ed.). A Natural System of Botany. London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Green and Longman. p. 440. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  11. ↑ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 164. ISBN 9780958034180.
  12. ↑ "Actinodium sp. 'Fitzgerald River'". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  13. ↑ "Actinodium cunninghamii". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia). Retrieved 22 April 2021.
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