Xerochrysum palustre (Flann) R.J.Bayer, Kew Bull.

Collins, Timothy L., Schmidt-Lebuhn, Alexander N., Andrew, Rose L., Telford, Ian R. H. & Bruhl, Jeremy J., 2022, There’s gold in them thar hills! Morphology and molecules delimit species in Xerochrysum (Asteraceae; Gnaphalieae) and reveal many new taxa, Australian Systematic Botany 35 (2), pp. 120-185 : 180

Xerochrysum palustre (Flann) R.J.Bayer, Kew Bull.

56(4): 1014 (2001)

Bracteantha palustris Flann, Muelleria 11: 97 (1998). Type: Saplings Morass Flora and Fauna Reserve, Victoria, 11 Dec. 1996, C. Flann 1 & N.G. Walsh (holo: MEL 2036150 *; iso: CANB 528907 *, NSW 458152) .

Helichrysum acuminatum var. angustifolium DC., Prodr. 6: 188 (1838). Type citation: ‘in terra Van-Diemen legit cl. Gunn. ’ Type: van Diemen , s. dat., Gunn 247 (syn: G-DC G00470645 *); In insula Van Diemen , s. dat.,? Gunn s.n. (possible syn: MEL 61301 *) .

Erect, rhizomatous, perennial herb, ~ 30–60 cm tall. Stems and branches cobwebby or woolly to glabrescent, and with glands; internode length 15–35 mm. Basal leaf rosette absent at flowering. Seedling and basal leaves not seen. Cauline leaves lanceolate, 20–120 mm long and 2–10 mm wide, base attenuate, margin cobwebby, hispid, and scabrid, apex acute and apiculate; abaxial indumentum with glands, midvein glabrous (occasionally with scattered septate trichomes and glands); adaxial indumentum cobwebby or glabrous, and with glands. Foliaceous bracts subtending capitula 5–10 mm long, margin cobwebby and fimbriate. Capitula 35–45 mm wide, terminal, solitary. Outer phyllaries ovate, brown or straw-coloured, basal margin fimbriate and hispid, abaxial surface smooth, apex acute to apiculate. Medial phyllaries lanceolate, abaxially brown or yellow, apex apiculate to acute. Stylar appendages clavate to ovate. Cypsela oblong, ~ 3 mm long and ~ 0.75 mm wide, in cross-section with oblique angles to circular; pericarp brass-coloured, idioblasts present. Pappus persistent, ~ 8 mm long.

Distribution

Occurring in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania in the South East Corner, South East Coastal Plain and Tasmanian Southern Ranges bioregions ( Fig. 50 ) .

Phenology

Recorded flowering December–January and fruiting in February.

Habitat

Swamps typically below 500-m altitude.

Conservation status

Listed as ‘ Vulnerable ’ under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995, the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and under the Commonwealth of Australia Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Notes

At Tantawangalo State Forest populations of X. palustre and X. andrewiae are sympatric and mixed collections have been made (e.g. D.L. Jones 17164 MEL 2101319!, CANB 616790).

The common name ‘swamp paperdaisy’ is in use in Tasmania (‘Natural Values Atlas’, see www.naturalvaluesatlas.tas.gov. au), and ‘swamp everlasting’ in New South Wales and Victoria (New South Wales Flora Online, see http:// plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/floraonline.htm; VicFlora, see https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/).

Selected specimens examined

NEW SOUTH WALES: South Coast: corner Tin Mine Road and Tantawangalo Mountain Road , 17 Jan. 2000, D.L. Jones 17111 ( CANB, NE!) ; ~ 9.8 km E of Cathcart towards Pambula , 8 Feb. 2000, D.L. Jones 17157 ( CANB, MEL!) . VICTORIA: East Gippsland : Gisborne Racecourse Marshlands Reserve , 12 Dec. 1996, C. Flann 5 & N.G. Walsh ( MEL!) . Western Plains: Lower Glenelg River area, Red Gum Flat , 25 Jan. 1970, A.C. Beauglehole 33395 ( MEL!) . TASMANIA: Central Highlands: Bronte Lagoon , 1 Mar. 2018, T.L. Collins 1019 & R.L. Andrew ( CANB!, HO!, NE!) . Northern Midlands: Smiths Lagoon , 7 Mar. 2018, T.L. Collins 1038 & R.L. Andrew ( CANB!, HO!, NE!) .

Figures

Fig. 50. Distribution of Xerochrysum palustre.