Olearia hygrophila

Olearia hygrophila
Conservation status
Endangered  (EPBC Act)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Olearia
Species:	O. hygrophila
Binomial name
Olearia hygrophila (DC.) Benth. [1]
Synonyms [1]
Aster hygrophilusDC. nom. inval., pro syn. Eurybia hygrophilaDC. Shawia hygrophila(DC.) Sch.Bip.

Olearia hygrophila, commonly known as swamp daisy or water daisy, ^[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to a restricted part of North Stradbroke Island in south-eastern Queensland. It is a shrub with slender stems, linear leaves, and white and yellow, daisy-like inflorescences.

Description

Olearia hygrophila is a shrub that typically grows to a height of up to 2 m (6 ft 7 in) and has slender stems. The leaves, arranged alternately along the branchlets, are linear to elliptic, 15–70 mm (0.59–2.76 in) long and 1.5–6 mm (0.059–0.236 in) wide, and sometimes have a few teeth on the edges. The daisy-like heads or "flowers" are arranged in panicles on the ends of branches and are 20–30 mm (0.79–1.18 in) in diameter. Each head has white ray florets, the ligule 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long, surrounding yellow disc florets. Flowering mainly occurs from July to September, and the fruit is a glabrous achene 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long, with the pappus about 5 mm (0.20 in) long. ^{[2] [3]}

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1836 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle who gave it the name Eurybia hygrophila in his Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis , from specimens collected by Allan Cunningham on North Stradbroke Island. ^{[4] [5]} In 1867, George Bentham changed the name to Olearia hygrophila in Flora Australiensis . ^[6] The specific epithet (hygrophila) means "moisture-loving". ^[7]

Distribution and habitat

Olearia hygrophila grows in swamps and is restricted to the north-east end of North Stradbroke Island in south-eastern Queensland. ^{[2] [3]}

Conservation status

This daisy bush is classified as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992 . The main threats to the species include weed invasion, inappropriate fire regimes, land clearing, and changes in hydrology. ^{[2] [8]}

References

1. "Olearia hygrophila". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
2. "Approved Conservation Advice for Olearia hygrophila (Swamp Daisy)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
3. Stanley, Trevor D.; Ross, Estelle M. (1986). Flora of south-eastern Queensland. Vol. 2. Brisbane: Queensland Government Department of Primary Industries. p. 520. ISBN   9780724217601 . Retrieved 28 April 2022.
4. "Eurybia hygrophila". APNI. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
5. de Candolle, Augustin P.; de Candolle, Alphonse (1836). Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis. Vol. 5. Paris. p. 269. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
6. "Olearia hygrophila". APNI. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
7. William T. Stearn (1992). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (4th ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. p. 428.
8. "Species profile—Olearia hygrophila (swamp daisy)". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 28 April 2022.