Bedfordia
Encyclopedia
Bedfordia is a genus of flowering plant
s belonging to the family Asteraceae
. The genus includes 3 species, all endemic to Australia
.
Stems and leaves: The young branches and lower surface of leaves and the whorl that surrounds the flower heads are densely covered with short matted and stellate hairs.
Flowers: Heads in dense axillary branched cluster which is shorter than the leaves. Flower heads have a flat circular shape; and are surrounded by a hairy bract which is at base. Tubular, bisexual florets, scarcely longer than the bract.
Fruits and reproduction: Cylindrical, grooved and not hairy achene
s. Pappus
bristles are finely toothed and twice as long as achenes. B. salicina intergrades with B. arborescens (a tree) and B. linearis (a shrub).
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Species
Flowering plant
The flowering plants , also known as Angiospermae or Magnoliophyta, are the most diverse group of land plants. Angiosperms are seed-producing plants like the gymnosperms and can be distinguished from the gymnosperms by a series of synapomorphies...
s belonging to the family Asteraceae
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
. The genus includes 3 species, all endemic to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
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Description
Bedfordia are shrubs or small trees.Stems and leaves: The young branches and lower surface of leaves and the whorl that surrounds the flower heads are densely covered with short matted and stellate hairs.
- Leaves grow first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along the branches; not paired. Leaf edges are entire or with irregular rounded scallops, and have leaf stalks.
Flowers: Heads in dense axillary branched cluster which is shorter than the leaves. Flower heads have a flat circular shape; and are surrounded by a hairy bract which is at base. Tubular, bisexual florets, scarcely longer than the bract.
Fruits and reproduction: Cylindrical, grooved and not hairy achene
Achene
An achene is a type of simple dry fruit produced by many species of flowering plants. Achenes are monocarpellate and indehiscent...
s. Pappus
Pappus (flower structure)
The pappus is the modified calyx, the part of an individual disk, ray or ligule floret surrounding the base of the corolla, in flower heads of the plant family Asteraceae. The pappus may be composed of bristles , awns, scales, or may be absent. In some species, the pappus is too small to see...
bristles are finely toothed and twice as long as achenes. B. salicina intergrades with B. arborescens (a tree) and B. linearis (a shrub).
Taxonomy
The genus was first formally described by Swiss botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in the second volume of Archives de Botanique in 1833. The genus name honours John Russell, 6th Duke of BedfordJohn Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, LLD, FSA , known as Lord John Russell until 1802, was a British Whig politician and notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ministry of All the Talents...
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Species
- Bedfordia arborescensBedfordia arborescensBedfordia arborescens known as the Blanket Leaf is a shrub or small tree of south eastern Australia. It occurs in or around temperate rainforests in areas of high altitude...
(tree blanket leaf) - eastern AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
- Senecio bedfordii F.Muell
- Bedfordia linearis (slender blanket leaf) - TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
- Cacalia linearis Labill.
- Culcitium lineare (Labill.) Spreng.
- Senecio billardierei F.Muell.
- Bedfordia salicina DC. (blanket leaf) - TasmaniaTasmaniaTasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
- Cacalia salicina Labill.
- Culcitium salicinum (Labill.) Spreng.