Helichrysum calvertianum

Helichrysum calvertianum is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is a small subshrub with small crowded leaves and single white daisy-like flowers. It is endemic to the Southern Highlands in New South Wales.

Helichrysum calvertianum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Helichrysum
Species:
H. calvertianum
Binomial name
Helichrysum calvertianum
(F.Muell) F.Muell.[1]

Description

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Helichrysum calvertianum is a small, many branched subshrub to 30 cm (12 in) high with smooth stems and occasional woolly, small glandular hairs. The green crowded leaves are sticky, linear, 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long, 0.5–0.8 mm (0.020–0.031 in) wide, margins rolled under concealing the lower surface. The papery white, daisy-like flowers are borne singly at the end of wiry branches, 0.7–1 cm (0.28–0.39 in) long and 1–1.5 cm (0.39–0.59 in) in diameter with yellow centres. The bracts are scaly, brownish, somewhat hairy near the base, intermediate bracts longer with pale, papery edges, sometimes tinted pink near the apex, outer bracts golden and translucent, innermost bracts narrow with small, papery white edges. Flowering occurs from January to August and the fruit are a dry, one-seeded, slightly glandular, oblong to needle-shaped, bristly and almost feathery at the tip.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

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Helichrysum calvertianum was first formally described 1877 by Ferdinand von Mueller as Helipterum calvertianum and the description was published in Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae.[5][6] In 1882 Mueller changed the name to Helichrysum calvertianum.[7][8] The specific epithet (calvertianum) is in honour of "Mrs Calvert" (nee Louisa Atkinson), a plant collector for Mueller.[9]

Distribution and habitat

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This species grows mostly on Hawkesbury sandstone in heavier, moist soils, on or near rock platforms and in dry sclerophyll forest. It is restricted to the Southern Highlands between Joadja, Belanglo, Fitzroy Falls and Mount Gibraltar.[2][4]

Conservation status

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Helichrysum calvertianum is classified as a "vulnerable species" in New South Wales.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Helichrysum calvertianum". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b Everett, J. "Helichrysum calvertianum". PlantNET NSW Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. ^ Fairley, Alan (2004). Seldom Seen-Rare Plants of Greater Sydney. Reed New Holland. p. 110. ISBN 1876334991.
  4. ^ a b Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2010). Native Plants of the Sydney Region (3rd ed.). Crows Nest: Jacana Books. p. 454. ISBN 9781741755718.
  5. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1877). Fragmenta Phytographiae Australiae 10(87) (10 ed.). Melbourne. p. 108.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ "Helipterum calvertianum". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  7. ^ "Helichrysum calvertianum". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. ^ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1882). Systematic Census of Australian Plants. Melbourne. p. 81.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ "Louisa Atkinson". Biographical Notes. Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  10. ^ "Helichrysum calvertianum". NSW Threatened Species. NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Retrieved 30 May 2021.