Leucophyta
Encyclopedia
Leucophyta is a plant genus
which is endemic to Australia
. The genus was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown
in 1817.
A number of species which were formerly included in the genus have been transferred to Blennodia and Calocephalus
, leaving one single species Leucophyta brownii (also known as Cushion Bush).
Leucophyta brownii is a small, rounded shrub with tangled tomentose branchlets that give it a silvery appearance. It commonly occurs on the exposed faces of cliffs and dunes on the south coast of Australia. 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.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
which is endemic to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The genus was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown
Robert Brown (botanist)
Robert Brown was a Scottish botanist and palaeobotanist who made important contributions to botany largely through his pioneering use of the microscope...
in 1817.
A number of species which were formerly included in the genus have been transferred to Blennodia and Calocephalus
Calocephalus
Calocephalus is a genus of annuals, perennial herbs and shrubs, in the family Asteraceae. The genus, which is endemic to Australia, was first formally described by botanist Robert Brown in 1817.There are 14 species, including:...
, leaving one single species Leucophyta brownii (also known as Cushion Bush).
Leucophyta brownii is a small, rounded shrub with tangled tomentose branchlets that give it a silvery appearance. It commonly occurs on the exposed faces of cliffs and dunes on the south coast of Australia. 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
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, known by the cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
name 'Silver Nugget', also grown.