Small snowdaisy
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Celmisia
Species:
C. saxifraga
Binomial name
Celmisia saxifraga

Celmisia saxifraga, commonly known as the small snowdaisy, is a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family. It is native to Tasmania and Victoria, where it grows in alpine grasslands above the snowline.[3]

Description

Like other members of the Asteraceae family, C. saxifraga has a composite flower head with both disk and ray florets.[4] Inflorescence are a typical daisy arrangement with white outsides and a yellow centre. The entire inflorescence can be 3 cm across, and is often held well above the rosette on a hairy stem growing to 15 cm.[5] The fruit is small, hard, and dry, similar to a sunflower seed.[6] This is often called an achene, but in Asteraceae is more accurately called a cypsela. [7] The primary difference between the two being that a cypsela is a single fruit formed from two ovaries (as in C. saxifraga) while an achene describes a fruit formed from a single ovary.[8] The leaves of C. saxifraga are simple and entire, growing to 3 cm long. They are glaucous silver and hairy.[9] C. saxifraga can be distinguished from the similar and co-occurring C. asteliifolia by its leaves.[10] The leaves of C. saxifraga are shorter (~3 cm) than those of C. asteliifolia (up to 18 cm).[11]

Etymology

"Saxifraga" is a combination of the Latin words saxum, meaning "stone", and frangere meaning "to break". The name "stone-breaker" is however thought to refer to plant in the genus Saxifraga being used in treating kidney stones.[12] It is unclear whether C. saxifraga is named for breaking rocks or for its similarity to certain Saxifraga species which are also herbaceous and rosette-forming.

References

  1. ↑ "Celmisia saxifraga". Plants of the World Online. Kew Royal Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  2. ↑ Curtis, W. M. (1968). "New Combination in Celmisia". Taxon. 17 (4): 467. doi:10.2307/1217425. JSTOR 1217425.
  3. ↑ Curtis, W.M; Bentham, George. "Celmisia saxifraga". Alpine Garden Society. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Asteraceae". Britannica. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  5. ↑ Howell, Christine; Whiting, Jenny; Roberts, Jill; Reeves, Ricky; Taylor, Frank; Taylor, Verity (2012). Tasmania's Natural Flora (2nd ed.). Devenport, Tasmania: Tasmania's Natural Flora Editorial Committee. p. 57. ISBN 9780909830663.
  6. ↑ Howell, Christine; Whiting, Jenny; Roberts, Jill; Reeves, Ricky; Taylor, Frank; Taylor, Verity (2012). Tasmania's Natural Flora (2nd ed.). Devenport, Tasmania: Tasmania's Natural Flora Editorial Committee. p. 57. ISBN 9780909830663.
  7. ↑ Evans, William Charles (2009). "Plant description, morphology and anatomy". Trease and Evans' Pharmacognosy. Sixteenth edition: 541–550. doi:10.1016/B978-0-7020-2933-2.00041-1. ISBN 9780702029332. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  8. ↑ "Cypsela". Encyclopedia.com. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  9. ↑ Howell, Christine; Whiting, Jenny; Roberts, Jill; Reeves, Ricky; Taylor, Frank; Taylor, Verity (2012). Tasmania's Natural Flora (2nd ed.). Devenport, Tasmania: Tasmania's Natural Flora Editorial Committee. p. 57. ISBN 9780909830663.
  10. ↑ "Celmisia saxifraga". Key to Tasmanian Dicots. UTAS. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "Celmisia Asteliifolia". Key to Tasmanian Vascular Plants. UTAS. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  12. ↑ "Saxifraga". Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
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