Brachyscome ascendens explained

Brachyscome ascendens, the border ranges daisy,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to Australia. It has mostly mauve daisy-like flowers and a yellow centre.

Description

Brachyscome ascendens is a herbaceous perennial with slender stems rising from the base of the plant or upper leaves. The branches are trailing and slightly ascending about long with glandular hairs. The leaves grow from the base and along the stems, usually lance-shaped, broader at the apex, long, wide and leaf edges usually lobed or toothed. The leaves decrease in size toward the end of the branch, usually with fewer lobes. The uppermost leaves often with smooth margins, lance or narrow shaped. The flower petals are long, mauve or lilac and the centre yellow. The 12-18 overlapping flower bracts are in diameter, elliptic or egg-shaped, rounded at the tip, long, wide with prominent dry and thin edges. The thin, brown dry fruit are long, flat, egg-shaped with prominent small warty protuberances on the surface. Flowering occurs April, October and December.[1] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Brachyscome ascendens was first formally described in 1948 by Gwenda Davis and the description was published in Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales.[3] [4] The specific epithet ascendens is derived from the Latin word ascendo meaning "mount", "climb", "rise" or "grow".[5]

Distribution and habitat

Border ranges daisy grows in forests or woodland on rocky basalt slopes from the McPherson Range area and to the east near the New South Wales and Queensland border.[1]

Conservation status

Brachyscome ascendens is classified as endangered in New South Wales.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brachyscome ascendens . PlantNET-NSW Flora Online . Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney . 29 December 2019.
  2. Book: Flora of South-eastern Queensland . 1986. Stanley, T. D. & Ross, E. M.. Biodiversity Heritage Library . 29 December 2019.
  3. Davis, G.L.. 1948. Revision of the genus Brachycome Cass. Part 1. Australian species. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. 73. 3–4. 175, textfigs 37,43, t. VI, map 14. 29 December 2019.
  4. Web site: Brachyscome ascendens . Australian Plant Name Index . 29 December 2019.
  5. Book: Brown. Roland Wilbur. The Composition of Scientific Words. 1956. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington, D.C.. 106.
  6. Web site: Brachyscome ascendens . Threatened Species-Border Ranges Daisy Profile . NSW Government Office of Environment & Heritage . 29 December 2019.