Gnephosis macrocephala

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Gnephosis macrocephala
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Gnephosis
Species:
G. macrocephala
Binomial name
Gnephosis macrocephala

Gnephosis macrocephala is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect annual herb with linear or lance-shaped leaves, compound heads of yellow flowers, and cone-shaped cypselas.

Contents

Description

Gnephosis macrocephala is an annual herb with main branches 4–38 cm (1.6–15.0 in) long with a few hairs. Its leaves are linear or lance-shaped, 5–38 mm (0.20–1.50 in) long and 0.5–0.8 mm (0.020–0.031 in) wide. The pseudanthia are arranged in very broadly oval or oblong compound heads of about 20 to 200, 5.5–20 mm (0.22–0.79 in) long and 5.5–14 mm (0.22–0.55 in) wide with four bracts in two rows, the outer bracts 2.3–3.5 mm (0.091–0.138 in) long, the inner bracts up to 3–4.3 mm (0.12–0.17 in) long. The petals are dark yellow or yellow-orange, and form a tube 1.6–2.8 mm (0.063–0.110 in) long and there are five stamens. Flowering has mostly been observed in October and November and the cypselas are conical, 1.0–1.3 mm (0.039–0.051 in) long with soft hairs hairs, the pappus a small cup about 0.26–0.6 mm (0.010–0.024 in) long. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Gnephosis macrocephala was first formally described in 1851 by Nikolai Turczaninow in the Bulletin de la Société impériale des naturalistes de Moscou from specimens collected by James Drummond in the Swan River Colony. [4] [5] The specific epithet (macrocephala) means 'large headed'. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Gnephosis macrocephala grows in saline soil near salt lakes in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions of south-western Western Australia. [2] [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Gnephosis macrocephala". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Gnephosis macrocephala". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. 1 2 Short, Philip Sydney (2016). "Notes concerning the classification of species included in Calocephalus R.Br. s.lat. and Gnephosis Cass. s.lat. (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae), with descriptions of new genera and species". Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 29: 204–205. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Gnephosis macrocephala". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  5. ↑ Turczaninow, Nikolai (1851). "Papilionaceae. Podalyrieae et Loteae Australasicae Non-Nullae, Hucusque non Descriptae". Bulletin de la Société impériale des naturalistes de Moscou. 24 (1): 190–191. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  6. ↑ George, Alex; Sharr, Francis (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 246. ISBN   9780958034180.
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