Taxonomy

Leucophyta brownii Cass.

Common synonyms

Calocephalus brownii (Cass.) F.Muell.; Leucophyta brownii var. brownii

Description

Propagule or dispersal unit is the fruit with pappus. Fertile part 0.9-1.5 mm long, 0.3-0.6 mm wide, in side view widest in upper part (obovoid), +/- straight, the upper (apical) end narrowing, in cross-section flattened (?), basal scar (carpopodium) inconspicuous and undifferentiated, central, beak (=thinner sterile stalk between seed and pappus) absent, wings absent, fruit surface light brown or straw, rarely dark brown, smooth (except at cellular level), with glands or glandular hairs (by misinterpretation) or papillae (small protuberances), thickened margin absent, longitudinal ribs absent.

Pappus type bristles / hairs, pappus elements all +/- similar, up to 1.5-3 mm long, in one row, pappus elements numerous, falling off as a whole or elements falling off individually, the individual bristles feathery (plumose) along most of length, clearly wider at base, white / translucent, rarely yellowish.

Native range

Southern coastline of Australia

Weed status within Australia

native

Photo by Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn, voucher CANB579603.