Brachylaena

Brachylaena is a genus of flowering plants in the aster family, Asteraceae. Several are endemic to Madagascar, and the others are distributed in mainland Africa, especially the southern regions.[2]

Brachylaena
Brachylaena discolor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Subfamily:
Mutisioideae
Tribe:
Mutisieae
Genus:
Brachylaena

Synonyms[1]

These are trees and shrubs with alternately arranged leaves. They are dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on separate individuals. The flower heads are somewhat disc-shaped. Heads with female flowers are larger and produce larger pappi.[3]

B. huillensis is the only widespread species,[2] growing as a dominant tree in Brachylaena woodlands and a common species in some eastern African forests. It provides critical habitat for many animal species. It is also sought after for its wood and has been overexploited.[4]

Species[1]
  • Brachylaena discolor
  • Brachylaena elliptica (Thunb.) DC.
  • Brachylaena glabra (L.f.) Druce
  • Brachylaena huillensis O.Hoffm. – lowveld silver-oak, muhuhu
  • Brachylaena ilicifolia (Lam.) Phill. & Schweick.
  • Brachylaena merana
  • Brachylaena microphylla
  • Brachylaena neriifolia (L.) R.Br.
  • Brachylaena perrieri (Drake) Humbert
  • Brachylaena ramiflora
  • Brachylaena rotundata
  • Brachylaena stellulifera
  • Brachylaena transvaalensis Hutch. ex E.Phillips & Schweick.
  • Brachylaena uniflora

References
  1. Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
  2. Beentje, H. J. (2000). The genus Brachylaena (Compositae: Mutisieae). Kew Bulletin 55(1), 1-41.
  3. Hyde, M. A., et al. (2013). Brachylaena. Flora of Zimbabwe.
  4. Cordeiro, N. J. and M. Githiru. (2000). Conservation evaluation for birds of Brachylaena woodland and mixed dry forest in north-east Tanzania. Bird Conservation International 10(1), 47-65.


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