PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Genus Astrotricha Family Araliaceae

Description: Shrubs, usually strongly erect, usually with a conspicuous indumentum of stellate hairs on most parts of the plant except the upper surface of the mature leaf.

Leaves simple, margins entire or almost so, or occasionally with basal lobes, upper surface ± glabrous when mature, lower surface smooth or rough with a dense even indumentum; venation often (especially broader-leaved species) visible in relief on the lower surface despite the indumentum; margin flat to revolute; petiolate to occasionally subsessile, stipules absent.

Inflorescence of stalked umbels arranged in often-conspicuous terminal panicles, often with 3 or 4 orders of branching, often leaf-interrupted near base. Flowers bracteolate (bracteoles directly subtending pedicels). Calyx minutely 5-toothed. Petals 5, outer surface hairy or rarely glabrous, inner surface glabrous. Stamens 5, soon falling. Styles 2, free, becoming recurved.

Fruit a ± laterally compressed schizocarp, tardily separating into 2 (rarely winged) mericarps (sometimes one abortive).


Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 16 species, endemic Australia. Australia: Qld, N.S.W., Vic., W.A.

Text by M. J. Henwood & R. O. Makinson
Taxon concept:

Taxa not yet included in identification key
Astrotricha pterocarpa,    Astrotricha sp. Deua (R.O.Makinson 1647),    Astrotricha sp. Howe Range (D.E.Albrecht 1054),    Astrotricha sp. Mount Boss (P.Gilmour 7907),    Astrotricha sp. Quorrobolong (S.Lewer 40),    Astrotricha sp. Wallagaraugh (R.O.Makinson 1228),    Astrotricha sp. Watchimbark (P.Gilmour 7938),    Astrotricha umbrosa

 Key to the species 
1Some or all leaves more than 20 mm wide2
Leaves less than 20 mm wide8
2Leaves broad-ovate or cordate, up to 20 cm wide, base usually cordate and rarely more or less peltate; inflorescence axes usually purple beneath the indumentum, often glabrescent; petals purple; fruit wingedAstrotricha cordata
Leaves narrowly oblong-elliptic to oblong-ovate or narrow-elliptic, base truncate to cuneate or rounded; inflorescence axes sometimes glabrescent and purplish, or hairy throughout and pale; petals purple, white to cream, or greenish yellow; fruit not winged
                       Back to 1
3
3Petioles ± 25 mm long4
Petioles less than 25 mm long
                       Back to 2
5
4Petals greenish yellow, reflexed; lower surface of leaves with a thin even indumentum, with lateral veins, reticulum, and looping intramarginal veins all evident in relief through the hairs; leaves oblong-ovate to oblong-elliptic; non-basal bracteoles ovate to narrow-triangular or rarely linear, 0.8–3.0 mm longAstrotricha latifolia
Petals white to cream, erect to spreading; lower surface of leaves with a dense, usually floccose indumentum, usually only the lateral veins evident through the hairs; leaves elliptic to narrow-ovate; non-basal bracteoles filamentous to subulate, 2–10 mm long
                       Back to 3
Astrotricha floccosa
5Petals greenish yellow, strongly reflexed; leaves oblong-ovate to oblong-elliptic, 20–80 mm wide; lower surface of leaves with a thin even indumentum, the lateral veins, reticulum, and looping intramarginal veins all evident in relief through the hairsAstrotricha latifolia
Petals white to cream, or purple, erect to reflexed; leaves narrow-ovate to narrow-elliptic, rarely narrowly oblong-elliptic, 20–50 mm wide; lower surface of leaves with a dense, sometimes floccose indumentum, usually only the lateral veins evident through the hairs
                       Back to 3
6
6Petals purple, glabrous on outer surface; inflorescence axes deep purple throughout beneath the hairs, often glabrescentAstrotricha roddii
Petals white to cream, with hairs on outer surface; inflorescence axes usually hairy throughout and pale beneath the hairs, or rarely glabrescent and slightly purplish
                       Back to 5
7
7Leaves 20–50 mm wide; indumentum of vegetative branchlets, petioles and inflorescence axes loose and floccose, easily dislodged; non-basal bracteoles filamentous to subulate, 2–10 mm longAstrotricha floccosa
Leaves 20–26 mm wide; indumentum of vegetative branchlets, petioles, and inflorescence axes dense but not usually floccose, not easily dislodged; non-basal bracteoles narrow-triangular to narrow-ovate or rarely subulate, c. 1.5–3 mm long
                       Back to 6
Astrotricha longifolia
8Upper surface of leaves smooth or coarsely wrinkled but lacking projections, lateral veins evident to obscure on either leaf surface9
Upper surface of leaves rough, the projections (variably conspicuous and subconical or inconspicuous and granulate, but detectable with a hand lens or a fingernail) sometimes restricted to near the margins; lateral veins not evident on either surface
                       Back to 1
12
9Inflorescences up to c. 6 cm long, few-branched, branches few-flowered; petals greenish yellow; leaves obovate or rarely oblong-elliptic, 1–3 cm longAstrotricha obovata
Inflorescences 5–30 cm long, usually many-branched; petals white to cream or purple; leaves narrow-elliptic or sublinear to linear
                       Back to 8
10
10Apex of leaves obtuse; leaves linear, 2–6 cm long, 2.5–4 mm wide; petioles less than 2 mm long or absentAstrotricha crassifolia
Apex of leaves acute; leaves narrow-elliptic, 4–18 cm long, 3–20 mm wide; petioles 4–15 mm long
                       Back to 9
11
11Petals purple, glabrous or nearly so on outer surface; mericarps 3-locular; inflorescence axes deep purple beneath the indumentum, often glabrescent; upper surface of leaves with lateral veins and reticulum strongly evidentAstrotricha roddii
Petals white, hairy on outer surface; mericarps 1-locular; inflorescence axes hairy throughout or glabrescent, if glabrescent then sometimes purplish (especially on sunward surfaces); upper surface of leaves with lateral veins evident to obscure
                       Back to 10
Astrotricha longifolia
12Inflorescences up to c. 6 cm long, few-branched, branches few-flowered; leaves obovate or rarely oblong or narrow-elliptic, 10–30 mm long, 3–10 mm wide, upper surface lacking granules but with few to many subconical projections especially near the marginsAstrotricha obovata
Inflorescences 3–30 cm long, usually several to many-branched, branches many flowered; leaves oblong to very narrow-elliptic or linear, 24–140 mm long, 1–7 mm wide; upper surface with granules and or larger subconical projections
                       Back to 8
13
13Leaves narrow-oblong to oblong-elliptic, 25–45 mm long, 3–7 mm wide, apex obtuse; inflorescences 7–15 cm long; petals creamy-green to white or occasionally purple in A.C.T. plantsAstrotricha ledifolia
Leaves linear or very narrow-elliptic, 20–140 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, apex obtuse to subacute; inflorescences 4–30 cm long; petals whitish
                       Back to 12
14
14Leaves linear, less than 2 mm wide, 20–65 mm long, margin recurved to revolute; lower surface of leaves between midvein and margins enclosed or narrowly exposed; secondary peduncles usually less than 3 cm longAstrotricha linearis
Leaves narrow-elliptic to sublinear, 2–5 mm wide, 50–140 mm long, margins slightly recurved; lower surface of leaves clearly exposed; secondary peduncles usually 3–5 cm long
                       Back to 13
Astrotricha asperifolia

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET