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Leucophyta
Leucophyta brownii.jpg
Leucophyta brownii, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Leucophyta brownii IMG 20180203 142608 (40020426882).jpg
Leucophyta brownii, Gippsland, Victoria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
(unranked):
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Order:
Family:
Genus:
Leucophyta

Species:
L. brownii
Binomial name
Leucophyta brownii
Cass.
Synonyms

Calocephalus brownii (Cass.) F.Muell.

Leucophyta is a plant genus which is endemic to Australia. The genus was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1818.

The sole species in the genus is Leucophyta brownii, also known as cushion bush. In 1891 German botanist Otto Kuntze assigned a number of species to this genus in his publication Revisio Generum Plantarum but none of his name combinations have currency, these species being presently divided between the genera Balladonia, Blennospora, Calocephalus and Gnephosis.

Leucophyta brownii is a small, rounded shrub with tangled tomentose branchlets that give it a silvery appearance. Although it can grow up to 1 metre high, it is more usually 0.2 to 0.7 metres high. It produces flowers during summer (December to February in Australia). These are white - yellow globular heads and about 1 cm in diameter.

The species is common in cultivation in Australia, with a selected dwarf form from Tasmania, known by the cultivar name 'Silver Nugget', also grown.

Habitat

Leucophyta brownii is found in coastal environments. It commonly occurs on the exposed faces of cliffs and dunes on the south coast of Australia. It is highly tolerant of prevailing winds, sea spray, drought and frost and grows on predominantly sand or sandstone derived soil. Further, the soil can be highly alkaline (where sand is composed of calcium carbonate). It grows most successfully in full sun.

Leucophyta brownni portsea
An example of the habitat where Leucophyta brownii is found. The image taken at Jubilee Point, Sorrento, Victoria.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Leucophyta para niños

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