Cratystylis conocephala
Scientific classification Edit this classification
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
    • Aster conocephalus F.Muell.
    • Eurybia conocephala F.Muell.
    • Olearia conocephala (F.Muell.) F.Muell. ex Benth.
    • Olearia conocephala var. microphylla Diels
    • Pluchea conocephala (F.Muell.) F.Muell.
    • Pteronia australiensis Hutch.
    • Stera conocephala (F.Muell.) Ewart & Rees

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

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]

A map depicting where C. conocephala has been recorded

Ecology

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

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

  1. 1 2 "Cratystylis conocephala (F.Muell.) S.Moore". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "Factsheet - Cratystylis conocephala". keys.lucidcentral.org. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  3. ↑ Archer, William (2014-11-06). "Esperance Wildflowers: Cratystylis conocephala – Round-leaved Greybush". Esperance Wildflowers. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  4. 1 2 Western Australian Herbarium, Biodiversity and Conservation Science. "Florabase—the Western Australian Flora". florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Flora of Victoria". vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "PlantNET - FloraOnline". plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Fact sheet for Cratystylis conocephala". flora.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
  8. 1 2 "Bluebush Daisy - profile | NSW Environment, Energy and Science". www.environment.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 2022-10-19.
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