Pachystegia
| Marlborough rock daisies | |
|---|---|
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| Pachystegia insignis | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Subfamily: | Asteroideae |
| Tribe: | Astereae |
| Subtribe: | Celmisiinae |
| Genus: | Pachystegia Cheeseman, 1925[1]
|
Pachystegia is a
Marlborough rock daisies, with distinctive leathery leaves and daisy-like flowers. They are naturally found only in dry areas of the north-eastern South Island
of New Zealand.
Taxonomy
Pachystegia was first described by
Thomas Cheeseman named a smaller variety O. insignis var. minor;[3] eventually he decided the species was sufficiently different from tree daisies to warrant its own genus, Pachystegia, meaning “thickly covered”, referring to the dense hairs on the undersides of its leaves.[1] Later field study and analysis of flavonoids suggested there were at least six taxonomic entities in Pachystegia.[2] P. minor was elevated to species status, and P. rufa named, but several species remain undescribed.[4]
Described species
- Pachystegia insignis (Hook.f.) Cheeseman
- Pachystegia minor (Cheeseman) Molloy
- Pachystegia rufa Molloy
Description
Pachystegia is adapted to drought, and grows on dry inland hills and coastal cliffs – it is often restricted to inaccessible rocky bluffs and cliffs, out of the reach of introduced sheep, goats, and rabbits.[2] It often occurs with the other drought-tolerant shrubs Veronica hulkeana and Brachyglottis monroi.[2] All species are low spreading shrubs with leaves that are thick and leathery and white-furred below. Their white daisy flowers have distinctive large buds covered with overlapping scales.[5] Hybridisation between described and undescribed species is common; some hybrid cultivars of P. insignis and P. minor are popular around the world as garden plants.
Distribution
The entire genus is
Ōhau rock daisy, an undescribed species found only on Ōhau Point north of Kaikōura
.
References
- ^ Wikidata Q115528659
- ^ JSTOR 24052000.
- Wikidata Q115527957.
- ^ "Search results — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2017-12-01.
- ISBN 0864730470.
- ^ Taranaki Educational Resource: Research, Analysis and Information Network, Pachystegia insignis (Marlborough Rock Daisy)
- ISBN 0478221746.
External links
Media related to Pachystegia at Wikimedia Commons- Ōhau rock daisy discussed on RNZ Critter of the Week, 1 December 2017
| Authority control databases: National |
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