Rough daisy-bush facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rough daisy-bush |
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| Olearia asterotricha in Maranoa Gardens | |
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Olearia
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asterotricha
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The Olearia asterotricha, also known as the rough daisy-bush, is a type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Asteraceae family, which includes daisies and sunflowers. This plant is a tall shrub that grows beautiful white, mauve, or blue flowers that look like daisies. You can find it growing from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales all the way to western Victoria, Australia.
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What Does the Rough Daisy-Bush Look Like?
The rough daisy-bush is a small, spreading shrub. It usually grows about 1 to 2 meters (3 to 7 feet) tall and 1.5 to 2 meters (5 to 7 feet) wide. Its branches are covered with soft, woolly hairs or tiny star-shaped hairs.
Flowers of the Rough Daisy-Bush
The flowers of this plant look like daisies. They can be white, pale mauve, or blue, and they have a yellow or purplish center. Each flower is about 2 to 4 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) across. They can grow alone or in groups of 25 to 40 flowers at the end of the stems. Each flower cluster sits on a stalk about 50 millimeters (2 inches) long.
Leaves and Fruit of the Rough Daisy-Bush
The leaves are dark green and grow one after another along the stem. They are shaped like narrow rectangles or oblongs. They are about 0.6 to 2.5 centimeters (0.2 to 1 inch) long and 0.2 to 0.8 centimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) wide. The top side of the leaves and stems feels rough because of tiny star-shaped hairs. The underside of the leaves is very woolly. The edges of the leaves can be smooth or have small teeth, and they often curl under.
After the flowers, the plant produces small, cylinder-shaped fruits. These fruits are about 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) long and have 6 to 8 ribs. Each fruit contains a single dry seed that stays inside until it's ready to sprout.
Naming the Rough Daisy-Bush
The scientific name for this plant, Olearia asterotricha, has an interesting history. It was first described in 1859 by a botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller. He first called it Eurybia asterotricha. Later, in 1865, he changed its name to Aster asterotrichus.
Then, in 1867, an English botanist named George Bentham gave it the name we use today: Olearia asterotricha. The second part of its name, asterotricha, comes from ancient Greek words. Aster means "a star," and thrix or trichos means "hair." This name describes the star-shaped hairs found on the plant.
Different Types of Rough Daisy-Bush
In 2014, a scientist named Andre Messina identified four slightly different types, or subspecies, of the rough daisy-bush. These subspecies are:
- Olearia asterotricha subsp. asterotricha: This type is an upright shrub with mostly narrow leaves. Its leaf edges can be wavy, rolled under, or slightly lobed.
- Olearia asterotricha subsp. glaucophylla: This subspecies has bluish leaves with lobed edges.
- Olearia asterotricha subsp. lobata: This is a spreading shrub with various leaf shapes. Its leaves have curved or flat edges that are lobed. Its flowers usually appear alone or in small groups.
- Olearia asterotricha subsp. rotundifolia: This type is a rounded, upright shrub with broadly egg-shaped leaves. Its leaf edges can be flat, slightly curved, or have wavy dips. Its flowers usually appear in groups of three.
Where Does the Rough Daisy-Bush Grow?
The rough daisy-bush grows from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales down to western Victoria. It prefers cool, damp, acidic soils. You can find it in heathlands or dry sclerophyll forests. The plant's appearance can change depending on where it grows.
In the Sydney area, it's a compact shrub with white flowers and grey-green leaves. In Victoria, it often has mauve-blue flowers, green leaves, and a more open shape. This plant is considered rare in Victoria.
Specific Locations for Each Subspecies
- Olearia asterotricha subsp. asterotricha is found only in high-up areas of the Grampians National Park in sandy soils within heath woodlands.
- Olearia asterotricha subsp. glaucophylla grows north of Mittagong in New South Wales.
- Olearia asterotricha subsp. lobata grows in wet heathlands or moist forests, usually at lower elevations. It's also found in a few separate areas of southern Victoria but is generally uncommon.
- Olearia asterotricha subsp. rotundifolia is thought to be found only in one area, directly below the top of Mt Langi Ghiran in Victoria. It grows in damp spots on the southern slopes among granite boulders.
Images for kids
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Olearia asterotricha in Maranoa Gardens
