Bogan flea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Calotis |
Species: | C. hispidula |
Binomial name | |
Calotis hispidula | |
Synonyms | |
Cheiroloma hispidulum |
Calotis hispidula, commonly known as the Bogan flea or bindi eye, [1] is a hairy species of daisy found in many parts of mainland Australia. It is a small herbaceous plant growing up to 10 centimetres tall, with white flowers that are often seen in the winter months. The specific epithet hispidula refers to the plant's covering of stiff hairs.
Calotis spp. are innocent looking daisies until they fruit, when the flower heads develop into masses of rigid needle-sharp barbs. Mainly opportunistic inhabitants of grasslands, their barbed burrs can be easily transported by livestock. [2]
Calotis hispidula is an annual ascending herb which may grow to 10 to 12 centimetres (3.9 to 4.7 in) high, with rough, hirsute hairs. [3]
It has no basal leaves; the aerial leaves are somewhat wedge-shaped, 0.5 to 2 centimetres (0.20 to 0.79 in) long and 1 to 7 millimetres (0.039 to 0.276 in) wide. The barbed flower heads range from 4 to 10 millimetres (0.16 to 0.39 in) in diameter, supported by bracts that encase a conical, scaled receptacle. The florets are yellow and sprout to be 1 mm long. [4]
The species grows in sandy soil on flats, low dunes and small hills and appears to be associated with Acacia woodlands and shrublands dominated by chenopods. [5]
Apparently a perennial that flowers in the first year of growth; no plants of this species have been observed to survive for more than two years; flowering is recorded for September and fruit have been collected in October, [5] though it will flower as early as August. [3]
At Mount Mulyah, northwest of Louth, New South Wales, Calotis spp. grows in an area cleared of original acacia cambagei woodland and subsequently invaded by dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustissima, which repressed the growth of herbaceous species. No regeneration of this species has been seen at Mount Mulyah since 1984. Calotishispidula can often be found growing in conjunction with other Calotis species, such as C. cymbacantha and C. erinacea, and are very similar morphologically.
Calotis hispidula grows in heavy clays to shallow stony soils, in a wide variety of communities; it is widespread, especially in inland districts. Known and current populations range within New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. It is found abundantly in Central Australia. [7]
There are no obvious threats to Calotis hispidula and it may not be in decline; however, weed invasion, clearing, agricultural activity, and grazing may impact this species. [5] Very small localised populations are inherently at risk from chance events. Small populations are also more susceptible to adverse genetic influences, such as inbreeding depression. Experts doubt that Calotis plants survive more than two years, and it is suggested that this may be because of the invasion of Narrow-leaf Hop-bush, which tends to suppress herb growth. [5]
The seeds are long lived in the soil and occasional substrate disturbance will not suppress the long-term viability of Calotis hispidula. Grazing is a potential threat to the populations, though the extent of the threat is uncertain. When mature, the plant is unlikely to be palatable due to the sharp, woody awns on the seeds. In dry times, the plant persists as seed in the soil and so would be unaffected by even heavy grazing pressure. Impacts are most likely in the period following emergence until maturity. [5]
Taunton National Park is situated near the town of Dingo approximately 135 km inland from Rockhampton in eastern Central Queensland, Australia. The park encompasses an area of 11,626 ha within the Northern Brigalow Belt bioregion of Queensland; a region widely recognised to contain considerable biodiversity.
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of grasses. According to Britannica, there exists four savanna forms; savanna woodland where trees and shrubs form a light canopy, tree savanna with scattered trees and shrubs, shrub savanna with distributed shrubs, and grass savanna where trees and shrubs are mostly nonexistent.
Acacia aneura, commonly known as mulga or true mulga, is a shrub or small tree native to arid outback areas of Australia. It is the dominant tree in the habitat to which it gives its name (mulga) that occurs across much of inland Australia. Specific regions have been designated the Western Australian mulga shrublands in Western Australia and Mulga Lands in Queensland.
Leucanthemum vulgare, commonly known as the ox-eye daisy, oxeye daisy, dog daisy, marguerite and other common names, is a widespread flowering plant native to Europe and the temperate regions of Asia, and an introduced plant to North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Rhinanthus minor, known as yellow rattle, is a herbaceous wildflower in the genus Rhinanthus in the family Orobanchaceae. It has circumpolar distribution in Europe, Russia, western Asia, and northern North America. An annual plant, yellow rattle grows up to 10–50 centimetres (3.9–19.7 in) tall, with upright stems and opposite, simple leaves. The fruit is a dry capsule, with loose, rattling seeds.
Rangelands are grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts that are grazed by domestic livestock or wild animals. Types of rangelands include tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands, savannas, chaparrals, steppes, and tundras. Rangelands do not include forests lacking grazable understory vegetation, barren desert, farmland, or land covered by solid rock, concrete and/or glaciers.
Acacia saligna, commonly known by various names including coojong, golden wreath wattle, orange wattle, blue-leafed wattle, Western Australian golden wattle, and, in Africa, Port Jackson willow, is a small tree in the family Fabaceae. Native to Australia, it is widely distributed throughout the south west corner of Western Australia, extending north as far as the Murchison River, and east to Israelite Bay. The Noongar peoples know the tree as Cujong.
Acacia parramattensis, commonly known as Parramatta wattle, is a tree of the family Fabaceae native to the Blue Mountains and surrounding regions of New South Wales. It is a tall shrub or tree to about 15 m (49 ft) in height with phyllodes instead of true leaves. These are finely divided bipinnate. The yellow flowers appear over summer. It generally grows in woodland or dry sclerophyll forest on alluvial or shale-based soils, generally with some clay content.
Acacia aphylla, commonly known as the leafless rock wattle, twisted desert wattle or live wire, is a species of Acacia which is endemic to an area around Perth in Western Australia
Acacia bivenosa, commonly known as two-nerved wattle, two-veined wattle or hill umbrella bush, is a species of Acacia found in northern Australia.
Eucalyptus occidentalis, commonly known as the flat topped yate or the swamp yate, is a tree that is native to Western Australia. The Noongar names for the tree are Mo or Yundill.
Acacia ancistrocarpa, commonly known as fitzroy wattle, is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae. The shrub is also known as fish hook wattle, pindan wattle and shiny leaved wattle.
Acacia elachantha is a shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae. It is native to arid parts of central and northern Australia.
Acacia paraneura, commonly known as weeping mulga, is a tree or shrub belonging to the genus Acacia and the subgenus Juliflorae. It is native to arid regions of Australia. The Indigenous Kurrama peoples know the tree as warlun.
Dodonaea procumbens, commonly known as trailing hop bush or creeping hop-bush, is a species of shrub in the genus Dodonaea found in eastern Australia. It occurs in many places in Australia such as South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Although the information on the abundance of this species is limited, it is estimated that about 5,000 plants occur in about 55 wild populations. The species is currently facing many threats such as the expansion of road facilities, the development of residential and agricultural areas, increased grazing regimes, weed invasions, and regimes changing of fire. As a result, it is listed as vulnerable and threatened. Therefore, it is necessary to provide protective solutions for the long-term development and survival of this species.
Acacia auratiflora, commonly known as the orange-flowered wattle, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves. It is listed as an endangered species.
Acacia awestoniana, commonly known as the Stirling Range wattle, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves.
Acacia colletioides, commonly known as wait-a-while, pin bush and spine bush, is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves that is native to Australia.
Acacia shirleyi, known colloquially as lancewood, is a species of Acacia native to Queensland and the Northern Territory in Australia. It grows as a tree to 15 metres (49 ft) high, with dark grey or black stringy bark and blue-grey foliage. The yellow flowers appear from March to July. It grows in dry scrub, open forest or mixed savannah woodland. Indigenous people used the wood as fuel and to make hunting spears. Cattle can eat the foliage as fodder.
Acacia carneorum, also referred to as purple-wood wattle, needle wattle, dead finish or by its former scientific name, Acacia carnei, is a plant species in the genus Acacia.