Cassinia macrocephala Orchard APNI* Synonyms: Cassinia sp. B sensu Everett (1992) APNI*
Description: Erect shrubs with stems few, 1–2 m high.
Leaves very narrow-linear appearing almost terete.
Flower heads pedunculate, when fresh appearing white to cream or yellowish-green, globose when dry and mature. Inner involucral bracts usually white at the extreme tip, becoming more hyaline as they dry. Florets 10–17 per head, bracts present.
Achenes deep purple brown, cylindrical, 1.0–1.1 mm long, densely covered with long white twin hairs. Pappus in one row, barely fused at the base, 20–27 barbellate bristles 2 mm long, deciduous. At maturity involucral bracts spread to release achenes, palae and inner involucral bracts with remaining parts of flower head lasting on the plant for up to 12 months.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows on granite in dry sclerophyll forest.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, CWS
Vegetatively this species closely resembles C. leptocephala, and if sterile the two are virtually indistinguishable.
Text by Louisa Murray
Taxon concept: A.E. Orchard (2004) Australian Systematic Botany 17 535-565.
| | Key to the subspecies | |
| 1 | Florets (9–)10–17 per flower head | 2 |
| Florets 5–8 per flower head | 3 |
| 2 | Leaves 1.0–2.0 mm wide, (30–)55–70mm long, with hairs on upper surface dense, finely acicular, gland-tipped at least when young; florets more than 10 (usually 15–16) per capitulum | subsp. macrocephala |
| Leaves 0.7–1.0 mm wide, (20–)30–35mmlong, with hairs on upper surface less dense, coarser conical and not gland-tipped; florets (9 or) 10 per capitulum
Back to 1 | subsp. tenuis |
| 3 | Leaves 0.7–0.8mm wide, 25–55mm long | subsp. petrapendula |
| Leaves 1.3–1.5mm wide, 60–70mm long
Back to 1 | subsp. storyi |
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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