Maireana aphylla, also known as cotton bush or leafless bluebush, is a leafless (or almost leafless) shrub that is endemic to Australia. It is usually rounded in form and grows to around 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) in height.
| Cotton bush | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Maireana |
| Species: | M. aphylla
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| Binomial name | |
| Maireana aphylla | |
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| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms | |
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The species occurs in all mainland states and territories apart from the Australian Capital Territory.
Description
editCotton bush is a divaricately branched shrub that grows to 0.5–2 meters high. It is a predominantly dioecious plant. The branchlets of Cotton bush striate and are almost glabrous to somewhat woolly, and often spinescent. Its leaves are small, alternate, slender and subterete. They are rarely longer than 8 millimeters and are frequently caducous.
Its flowers are usually solitary.[1]
Gallery
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References
edit- ^ "Fact sheet for Maireana aphylla". www.flora.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
- "Maireana aphylla ". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- "Maireana aphylla ". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- PlantNET – New South Wales Flora Online Maireana aphylla
External links
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Media related to Maireana aphylla at Wikimedia Commons- Maireana aphylla (photo)
