Leucophyta

Leucophyta is a plant genus which is endemic to Australia. The genus was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1818.[1]

Leucophyta
Leucophyta brownii, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Leucophyta brownii, Gippsland, Victoria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Asterales
Family:
Asteraceae
Genus:
Leucophyta

Species:
L. brownii
Binomial name
Leucophyta brownii
Synonyms

Calocephalus brownii (Cass.) F.Muell.

The sole species in the genus is Leucophyta brownii, also known as cushion bush.[4] In 1891 German botanist Otto Kuntze assigned a number of species to this genus in his publication Revisio Generum Plantarum but none of his name combinations have currency, these species being presently divided between the genera Balladonia, Blennospora, Calocephalus and Gnephosis.[5]

Leucophyta brownii is a small, rounded shrub with tangled tomentose branchlets that give it a silvery appearance.[6] Although it can grow up to 1 metre high, it is more usually 0.2 to 0.7 metres high.[7] It produces flowers during summer (December to February in Australia). These are white - yellow globular heads and about 1 cm in diameter.[8]

The species is common in cultivation in Australia, with a selected dwarf form from Tasmania, known by the cultivar name 'Silver Nugget', also grown.[9]

Habitat

Leucophyta brownii is found in coastal environments. It commonly occurs on the exposed faces of cliffs and dunes on the south coast of Australia.[6][8] It is highly tolerant of prevailing winds, sea spray, drought and frost and grows on predominantly sand or sandstone derived soil. Further, the soil can be highly alkaline (where sand is composed of calcium carbonate). It grows most successfully in full sun.[10]

An example of the habitat where Leucophyta brownii is found. The image taken at Jubilee Point, Sorrento, Victoria.

References
  1. Brown, R. (1818) Observations on the Natural Family of Plants called Compositae. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 12: 106.
  2. "Leucophyta brownii Cass". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  3. Cassini, A.H.G. de in Cuvier, F. (ed.) (1823) Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles Edn. 2, 26: 159.
  4. VicFlora: Leucophyta based on Short, P.S. (1999) Leucophyta. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae. Inkata Press, Melbourne
  5. "Leucophyta". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  6. Costermans, L. (1981). Native Trees and Shrubs of South-eastern Australia. Australia: Rigby. ISBN 072701403X.
  7. VicFlora: Leucophyta brownii based on Short, P.S. (1999) Leucophyta. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J. (eds), Flora of Victoria Vol. 4, Cornaceae to Asteraceae. Inkata Press, Melbourne
  8. FloraBase – The Western Australian Flora: Leucophyta brownii Cass.
  9. Burke's Backyard: Silver Nugget
  10. Spencer, Robert (2002). Horticultural Flora of South-Eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press. ISBN 0868406848.
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