Brachyscome segmentosa
Brachyscome segmentosa, commonly known as the Lord Howe Island daisy or mountain daisy, is a herb in the family Asteraceae. The specific epithet comes from the Latin segmentum ("segment") with the suffix -osa (indicating abundance), alluding to the many deep divisions of the leaf.[1]
| Brachyscome segmentosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Brachyscome |
| Species: | B. segmentosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Brachyscome segmentosa | |
Description
The plant grows up to 40 cm in height, and about the same in width. The bright green lobed leaves are 3–7 cm long and 1–2 cm wide. The flowers are terminal on 20 cm scapes; the ray florets are white, the disc florets yellow, with a corolla diameter of 2.5–4 cm.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The daisy is endemic to Australia's subtropical Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. It is common on damp rocky ledges at medium to higher elevations on the island's southern mountains, but is rare in the lowlands.[3] It is closely related to Brachyscome diversifolia var. maritima Benth., which is found on islands in Bass Strait.[1]
The plant has been introduced to cultivation. The cultivar Brachyscome 'Valencia' is believed to be a hybrid between B. segmentosa and B. angustifolia var. heterophylla.[2]
References
- "Brachyscome segmentosa". Flora of Australia Online: Data derived from Flora of Australia Volume 49 (1994). Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS). Retrieved 2014-01-25.
- "Brachyscome 'Valencia'". Australian Cultivar Registration Authority: Descriptions of Registered Cultivars. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 2014-01-25.
- Belcher RO, Green PS. "Brachyscome segmentosa". PlantNET: New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Garden: Sydney. Retrieved 2014-01-25.