Taxonomy

Blumea saxatilis Zoll. & Moritzi, Natuur-Geneesk.Arch.Ned.Indie 2:243 (1845).

Common synonyms

Arrhenechthites bukaensis Rech. & Muschl.; Blumea spinidens (Miq.) Boerl.; Blumea tenera Merr.; Blumea zollingeriana (Sch.Bip.) Boerl.; Conyza spinidens Miq.; Conyza zollingeriana Sch.Bip. ex Miq.; Conyza zollingeriana Turcz.; Erechtites bukaensis Rech. & Muschl.; Placus zollingeriana (Turcz.) Kuntze

Description

Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit with pappus. Fertile part 0.8-1.1 mm long, 0.2-0.3 mm wide, in side view mostly +/- equal thickness (cylindrical) or widest in the middle, +/- straight, the upper (apical) end narrowing, in cross-section flattened, basal scar (carpopodium) pronounced and well-differentiated, central, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) absent, wings absent, fruit surface light brown or straw or dark brown, smooth (except at cellular level), with simple straight hairs, thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs present, rarely absent, 10, their surfaces smooth, with simple straight hairs.

Pappus type bristles / hairs, pappus elements all +/- similar, up to 3-4 mm long, in one row, number of pappus elements six to numerous, elements falling off individually, the individual bristles rough / serrated (barbellate), +/- equal width along length, white / translucent.

Ecology

Annual herb, fruits wind-dispersed. Found on sandstone hills and other rocky outcrops or near water.

Native range

Phillipines?, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Northern Australia