Felicia amelloides
Felicia amelloides | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Felicia |
Section: | Felicia sect. Neodetris |
Species: | F. amelloides
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Binomial name | |
Felicia amelloides | |
Synonyms | |
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Felicia amelloides, the blue daisy bush or blue felicia, is a hairy, soft, usually
Description
Felicia amelloides is an evergreen, rich and regularly branched, upright
The flower heads are about 3 cm (1+1⁄5 in) across and sit individually on top of green to dark reddish, about 18 cm (7 in) long, densely hairy stalks. The involucre is 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) in diameter, and consist of two strict rows of bracts of 8–11 mm (0.31–0.43 in) long. The outer bracts are 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide, narrowly inverted lance-shaped with rough and sometimes also glandular hairs. The inner bracts are 2–3 mm (0.079–0.118 in) wide, inverted lance-shaped, with dry papery edges. The approximately twelve, bright blue, female ray florets have a strap of about 17 mm (0.67 in) long and 4 mm (0.16 in) wide. These surround many bisexual, disc florets with a yellow corolla of about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. In the center of each corolla are five anthers merged into a tube, through which the style grows when the floret opens, hoovering up the pollen on its shaft. At the tip of both style branches is a triangular appendage. Around the base of the corolla are many white, toothed, persistent pappus bristles of about 4 mm (0.16 in) long, which become slightly wider towards the top. The eventually dark brown, dry, one-seeded, indehiscent fruits called cypselae are inverted egg-shaped, about 4 mm (0.16 in) long and 2 mm (0.079 in) wide, the surface slightly scaly, and covered with short hairs.[2][4]
Felicia amelloides is a diploid having nine sets of homologue chromosomes (2n=18).[2]
The blue daisy can be distinguished from other Felicia species by the fact that all its leaves are opposite, with an entire margin, the plants have a very regular branching, and the involucral bracts are very long. Other Felicia species with only opposite leaves are F. denticulata, F. cymbalariae (toothed leaves), F. joubertinae (small and narrow leaves) and F. flaneganii (small, obovate, petioled leaves).[2]
Taxonomy and naming
The blue daisy was first described by
Aster capensis is a synonym for Felicia aethiopica, not of F. amelloides.[2]
The species epithet amelloides means "like Amellus", which is a similar genus that also occurs in South Africa. Felicia amelloides has several common names including blue felicia, bush felicia, blue felicia bush, blue daisy bush, shrubby felicia, Paris daisy, and blue marguerite in English and bloumagriet or blou-astertjie in Afrikaans. The use of these names is not necessarily restricted to F. amelloides though.[4]
Distribution, habitat and ecology
The blue daisy can be found in a strip along the south coast of the
The blue daisy is most common on old stabilizing sand dunes, or where shelter is provided, but also occurs on sandy flats, gravelly slopes, stony hillsides, rock slabs and Table Mountain Sandstone outcrops, at 0–1,000 m (0–3,281 ft) altitude.[4]
Conservation
The continued survival of Felicia amelloides is considered to be of least concern because its population is stable.[5]
Use
Felicia amelloides is used as an ornamental, both in South Africa and elsewhere. It was introduced to Europe during the eighteenth century and was one of the earliest species in horticulture. It survives some frost provided the soil is well draining, but dislikes moist heat. In hot climates, flowering ceases during summer. In colder climates, it is often treated as an annual, is sheltered in greenhouses or grown as a house plant.[4][6]
References
- ^ "Felicia amelloides (L.) Voss". The Plantlist.
- ^ a b c d e f g Grau, J. (1973). "Revision der Gattung Felicia (Asteraceae)". Mitteilungen der Botanischer Staatssammlung München. IX: 492–496. Retrieved 2017-11-12.
- ^ Ivan Latti. "Felicia amelloides". Operation Wildflower.
- ^ a b c d S.J. Smithies. "Felicia amelloides". SANBI PlantZAfrica.
- ^ "Felicia amelloides". SANBI Red List of South African Plants.
- ^ "Felicia amelloides". SA-Venues.