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Brachyscome

Brachyscome is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Most are endemic to Australia, and a few occur in New Zealand and New Guinea.[1]

Brachyscome
Brachyscome graminea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Tribe: Astereae
Subtribe: Brachyscominae
Genus: Brachyscome
Cass.
Species

See List of Brachyscome species

Name

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The genus name is spelled Brachycome by some authors. Henri Cassini published the name Brachyscome in 1816, forming it from the classical Greek brachys ("short") and kome ("hair"), a reference to the very short pappus bristles. Because the combining form of brachys in Greek compound words is brachy-, Cassini later corrected the spelling to Brachycome. Australian taxonomists still debate whether Cassini's corrected spelling is admissible under the rules of botanical nomenclature. A proposal to conserve Brachycome was rejected in 1993 by the Committee for Spermatophyta.[2]

Genetics

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One of the annual plains species, Brachyscome dichromosomatica, is remarkable for its low chromosome count. In this species n=2, though some plants have 1, 2 or 3 additional large B chromosomes.[3] The genus has an unusually large range of chromosome counts, from n=2 to n=18.[4]

Description

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These are annual and perennial herbs and small shrubs. Species have a basal rosette of leaves and/or leaves alternately arranged on the stem. The blades are entire or divided. The flower heads are solitary or borne in small corymbs. The head has a row of ray florets in shades of white, blue, pink, or mauve, and yellow disc florets.[1]

Fruit

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The genus is distinguished from other genera in tribe Astereae mainly by the structure of the fruit. These achenes or cypselas are roughly club-shaped but usually incurved and flattened. They often have a membranous rim or wing around the edge that is sometimes wavy or fringed. The pappus is less than one millimeter long in most species.[5]

Habitat

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Brachyscome species are found in a wide range of habitats. They occupy rainy coastal and mountainous regions as well as dry central Australia.[4]

Cultivation

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Some Brachyscome species, notably Brachyscome iberidifolia (Swan river daisy), are popular as easily cultivated ornamental plants for flower gardens, and many cultivars are bred for their form, foliage, and flowers.[6]

Species

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There are between 65 and 80 species in the genus.[1][4][7]

Main article: List of Brachyscome species

Species include:

References

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  1. ^ a b c Genus Brachyscome. PlantNet. New South Wales Flora Online. The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney.
  2. ^ Brummitt, R. K. (1993). Report of the Committee for Spermatophyta: 38. Taxon 42(3), 687-97.
  3. ^ Carter, C. R. (1978). Taxonomy of the Brachycome lineariloba complex (Asteraceae). Telopea 5, 387-93.
  4. ^ a b c Watanabe, K., et al. (1999). Chromosomal evolution in the genus Brachyscome (Asteraceae, Astereae): statistical tests regarding correlation between changes in karyotype and habit using phylogenetic information. Journal of Plant Research 112(2), 145-61.
  5. ^ Everett, J. "Brachycome". In: Harden, G. J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales volume 3, pages 155-67. University of New South Wales Press. 1992.
  6. ^ Research Garden. Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne.
  7. ^ Brachyscome. The Plant List.

Further reading

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  Media related to Brachyscome at Wikimedia Commons

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