Actinodium

Swamp daisy
Undescribed Albany daisy, Actinodium sp. 'Fitzgerald River'
Scientific 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 proliferum Turcz. Triphelia brunioides R.Br. ex Endl. nom. illeg.

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. "Actinodium cunninghamii". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
3. "Actinodium cunninghamii". Australian Plants on Postage Stamps. Australian National Herbarium ANBG symbol. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
4. 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. "Actinodium cunninghamii Schauer". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
6. "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.