Cassinia theresae Orchard APNI* Description: Erect shrub 0.6–1.3 m high; young stems greenish with dense indumentum of cottony hairs and longer spreading ± gland-tipped hairs.
Leaves terete with flared bases, 12–22 mm long, 0.6–1.3 mm wide, margins revolute to midrib, tip blunt with a small mucro; upper surface grey-green, densely scabrous with ± gland-tipped hairs and sparse cottony hairs; lower surface densely white tomentose, including midrib. Midrib sunken above, prominent below.
Inflorescence a small rounded corymb 20–25 mm diameter, with 10–50 heads, each 4–6 mm long. Involucral bracts papery, arranged in 5 vertical ranks of usually 5, straw coloured with white tips. Inner bracts slightly hooded with yellow-hyaline midsections and ± notched tips. Florets 8–15 per head, cream with green base.
Achenes silvery-grey or pale brown, 0.5–0.8 mm long, weakly 4 ribbed ± square in cross section. Pappus of 13–24 persistent bristles.
Flowering: January – July and in response to rain.
Distribution and occurrence: Occurs in mallee or Eucalypt woodland on red sandy and stony soils generally on flat terrain in south-central NSW.
NSW subdivisions: CWS, SWP
This species has a close relationship and adjoining distribution with C. hewsoniae but is distinguished by the densely scabrous upper leaf surfaces (glabrous or sparsely hairy in C. hewsoniae) and shorter achenes.
Text by K. Ismay
Taxon concept: A. E. Orchard 2004
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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