Achnophora

Achnophora is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family described as a genus in 1883.[1][2]

Achnophora
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Tribe:
Astereae
Subtribe:
Hinterhuberinae
Genus:
Achnophora

Binomial name
Achnophora tatei

The only known species is Achnophora tatei. This is a rare endemic found only on Kangaroo Island in South Australia.[3]

Description

Roots

The rhizome of A. tatei is described as thick, hairless and vertical with bundles of short thick rootlets attached.[4][5]

Leaves

A. tatei leaves are in a rosette form at the base of the plant, with a long narrow leaf shape (linear) and sheath at the base of the leaf.[5]

Flowers

A. tatei flowers take the form of a scape (single flowering stem arising from the rhizome).[5] The flower stems are red, thread-like, almost naked and about as long as the leaves.[6] Flowers are one-headed, have a rosette of bracts (small leaf like structures) surrounding the flower (involucre) which are close to hemispheric (i.e. half of a sphere).[5]

The bracts of the flower are generally arranged in three rows of unequal length, with similar grades of size, and range in shape with the bract being egg-shaped with broader end at base (ovate) to the bract being egg-shaped with the narrow end at base (obovate).[5] The bracts are 4 to 5 millimetres long and have dry and membranous margins.[6]

The receptacle or floral axis has conspicuous oblong (having a length greater than width) scales between the flowers.[6]

The ray-flowers are female in 1 row, with about 25 ligules which are narrow, blue and are an estimated 10 millimetres long. [6]

Disc-flowers are tubular,with the style-branches being slender (capillary).[6]

Anthers (pollen bearing structure which is part of the stamen) are blunt and rounded (obtuse) at the base.[6]

Taxonomy

Etymology

Achnophora tatei is commonly known as the Kangaroo Island Daisy.[7]

The genus name Achnophora is derived from the Greek word 'achne' which means chaff and 'phoros' meaning bearing.[7] This refers to the clearly visible scales of the receptacle and pappus.[7] Tatei is named after Ralph Tate (1840-1901), a British born botanist and geologist, who was a Professor of Natural Science at the University of Adelaide.[7]

Distribution and Habitat

A. tatei is found along the south coast of Kangaroo Island, South Australia.[6] The species is found in wet, swampy places.[6]

Conservation

Achnophora tatei has been classified as a vulnerable species by the South Australian Government due to a restricted distribution and the impacts of increasing salinity.[7]

References
  1. Mueller, Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von. 1883. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia 6:32
  2. Tropicos, Achnophora F. Muell.
  3. The Plant List Achnophora tatei F.Muell.
  4. Mueller, F (1883). "Diagnoses of a new genus and two species of Compositae from South Australia". Transactions and Proceedings and Report of the Royal Society of South Australia. 6: 31–33. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  5. Kubitzki, K (2007). The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants: VIII Flowering Plants Eudicots Asterales. 68. pp. 294–295. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. Black, J (1929). Flora of South Australia Part IV. Bignoniaceae-Compositae (PDF). 4. p. 593. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  7. "Seeds of South Australia - Species Information". Seed of South Australia. Retrieved 11 Jun 2020.
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