Olearia phlogopappa

Olearia phlogopappa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Astereae
Genus:	Olearia
Species:	O. phlogopappa
Binomial name
Olearia phlogopappa (Labill.) Benth.[1]
Synonyms
Aster phlogopappus Labill. Olearia gunniana (DC.) Hook. var. gunniana Olearia gunniana var. phlogopappa (Labill.) Hutch. Olearia gunniana (DC.) Hook.

Olearia phlogopappa (Dusty Daisy-bush) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.^[2] It occurs in open forest, woodland, heath and coastal shrubland in New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania.^[3][4]

Description

Oleraia phlogopappa grows to between 0.3 and 3 metres in height.^[5] The leaves are quite variable, but are usually grey-green with minute hairs on the underside which impart a whitish or yellowish appearance.^[5] The leaf margins are often bluntly toothed.^[5] White, pink or mauve "daisy" flower heads around 20-25 mm in diameter are mainly produced in spring and early summer.^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by Jacques Labillardière in 1806 in Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen and named Aster phlogopappus.^[1] In 1836 the species was transferred to the genus Olearia by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in Prodomus.^[1]

There are 6 varieties which are currently recognised:^[1]

• O. phlogopappa var. angustifolia (Hook.f.) W.M.Curtis
• O. phlogopappa var. brevipes (Hook.f.) W.M.Curtis
• O. phlogopappa var. flavescens (Hutch.) J.H.Willis
• O. phlogopappa var. microcephala (Hook.f.) W.M.Curtis
• O. phlogopappa (Labill.) DC. var. phlogopappa
• O. phlogopappa var. salicifolia (Hook.f.) W.M.Curtis

Cultivation

The species withstands moderate frost and drought, but prefers moist conditions and a well drained soil in a sunny or partially shaded position.^[3] Pruning is required to stop plants becoming spindly.^[3] Cuttings are the usual method of propagation as seed may be unreliable.^[3]

Cultivars

A number of cultivars are commercially available including:^[1][6]

• 'Blue Gem'
• 'Brevipes'
• 'Cana'
• 'Combers'
• 'Comber's Blue'
• 'Comber's Pink'
• 'Nyman's Splendens'
• 'Pink Gem'
• 'Salicifolia'
• 'Sawtooth'
• 'Splendens'
• 'Splendens Blue'
• 'Splendens Lavender'
• 'Splendens Pink'
• 'Tournaig Titch'

Another cultivar, 'Havering Blush', is a hybrid between Olearia phlogopappa and Olearia lirata.^[6]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Olearia phlogopappa". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. http://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/apni?TAXON_NAME=Olearia+phlogopappa. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
2. ^ "Olearia phlogopappa (DC.) Benth.". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Olearia~phlogopappa=. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Olearia phlogopappa". Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) - ANPSA. http://asgap.org.au/o-phl.html. Retrieved 2009-06-28. 
4. ^ "Gippsland Vegetation Types: Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC’s)". Department of Primary Industries (Victoria). http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/wgregn.nsf/0d08cd6930912d1e4a2567d2002579cb/d7df67e863bf94d8ca2574ef001a3cfb/$FILE/EVC%20876%20%20%20Sprayzone%20Coastal%20Shrubland.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-29. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Costermans, L. (1981). Native Trees and Shrubs of South-eastern Australia. Australia: Rigby. ISBN 072701403x. 
6. ^ ^{a b} "'Olearia". Horticultural Database. Royal Horticultural Society. http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/plantfinder2.asp?crit=Olearia+and+phlogopappa. Retrieved 2009-06-29.