Eriocephalus karooicus M.A.N.Müll.

Species

Angiosperms > Asterales > Asteraceae > Eriocephalus

Characteristics

Many-stemmed, much-branched, spinescent, aromatic shrubs, 150-450 mm tall, spreading. Old stems displaying anomalous secondary growth, dark grey; young shoots yellow-brown, shortly sericeous; older shoots brown-grey to dark grey, terminally spinescent, 10-22 mm long. Leaves 1-4 mm long, always decussate, sessile on cushion-like thickenings, entire, permanently silver-to green-grey sericeous, adaxially proximally concave, distally flattened, abaxially semiterete, apex acute, base semi-amplexicaul, bases of two opposite leaves connate, leaves on brachyblasts obtuse-triangular to lanceolate, densely imbricate, those on young shoots linear to linear-lanceolate. Capitula heterogamous radiate, 2-4.5 mm long, sessile, solitary, terminal on brachyblasts or spicate on dolichoblasts, almost hidden among subtending leaves. Involncral bracts 4, 3.2-4.0 x 0.8-1.4 mm, 2 slightly keeled with margins overlapping, other 2 flattened; each with central thickened green to purple part and transparent margin, abaxially appressed sericeous, adaxially smooth. Paleae: those of marginal florets free, oblong-ovate, 3.5 x 1.2 mm, hardened, keeled, abaxially lanate, hairs septate, enveloping female florets; those of disc florets narrowly oblong to lanceolate, becoming narrower towards centre, 3.8 x 1.0-3.6 x 0.2 mm, with membranous margins, abaxially lanate. Ray florets 2 or 3, 2.5-2.8 mm long; corolla white with distinct 1.3-2.2 mm long lamina. Style branches linear, as long as or shorter than ray, rarely longer. Ovary (and cypsela) oblong, slightly flattened, densely lanate. Seed 2-3 mm long, obovoid, slightly flattened. Disc florets 4-10, 2.5-3.0 mm long, functionally male with sterile ovary; corolla trumpet-shaped, 5-lobed, white to pale yellow to yellow with red-purple lobes. Stamens 5, exserted at maturity. Style unbranched, apex truncate, with sweeping hairs. Receptacle after anthesis white-lanate between involucral bracts and marginal paleae. Flowering time: December to March in summer, July to September in winter.
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Spinescent, much-branched shrub, 0.15-0.45 m high. Leaves decussate, obtuse-triangular to linear-lanceolate, entire, permanently silver-to green-grey sericeous. Capitula small, radiate, sessile, terminal, solitary or spicate; involucral bracts 4, with thickened green to purple central part and transparent margins, hairy. Receptacle paleate, all paleae free, hairy on outside. Ray florets 2 or 3, white. Disc florets 4-10, trumpet-shaped, white to pale yellow to yellow with red-purple lobes. Flowering time Aug.-Oct., Mar. Pappus absent. Cypselae oblong, slightly flattened, densely lanate.
Shrub, 0.15-0.45 m high; spinescent, much branched. Leaves decussate; blade obtuse-triangular to linear-obovate, margins entire, permanently silver-to green-grey sericeous. Heads small, radiate, sessile, terminal, solitary or spicate. Involucral bracts 4, with green to purple central part and transparent margins, hairy. Receptacle with paleae of ray florets free. Flowers: ray florets 2 or 3, white; disc florets 4-10, corolla trumpet-shaped, white to pale yellow to yellow with red-purple lobes; Sep.-May. Fruit with cypsela oblong, slightly flattened, densely lanate. Pappus absent.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention -
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination -
Spread -
Mature width (meter) -
Mature height (meter) 0.15 - 0.45
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) -
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color -
Blooming months -
Fruit color -
Fruiting months -
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway -

Environment

Light -
Soil humidity 1-3
Soil texture 7-8
Soil acidity -
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-11

Usage

Uses -
Edible -
Therapeutic use -
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Mode -
Germination duration (days) -
Germination temperacture (C°) -
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) -
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Distribution

Eriocephalus karooicus world distribution map, present in South Africa

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20000630-1
WFO ID wfo-0000129018
COL ID 3B3J4
BDTFX ID -
INPN ID -
Wikipedia (EN)
Wikipedia (FR)

Synonyms

Eriocephalus karooicus