Common name: Leafless Bluebush, Cotton Bush
Maireana aphylla (R.Br.) Paul G.Wilson APNI* Synonyms: Kochia aphylla R.Br. APNI*
Kochia villosa var. aphylla (R.Br.) F.Muell. ex Maiden & Betche APNI*
Description: Hemispherical perennial shrub to c. 1.5 m high, dioecious; often leafless or almost so with ± spiny, slightly hairy, striate branches.
Leaves to 8 mm long, ± succulent, sparsely hairy, usually drought-deciduous.
Flowers solitary, mostly unisexual. Fruiting perianth glabrous except for the upper perianth, tube small, occasionally produced into a short, hollow stipe-like base 1–2 mm high; horizontal wing c. 8 mm diam., with a radial slit.
Distribution and occurrence: Often with woolly insect galls to c. 2 cm diam. Widespread in low-lying seasonally inundated areas with heavy soils.
NSW subdivisions: NWP, SWP, NFWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. W.A. S.A. N.T.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
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.
|
