Olearia astroloba, commonly known as Marble Daisy-bush, is a rare shrub species in 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...

. It is endemic to the state of Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

 in Australia.

Description

The species grows to 0.5 metres high and has grey-green leaves that are about 18mm long and 10 mm wide. It has "daisy" flowerheads comprising mauve ray florets and yellow disc florets. The peak flowering period in the species native range is between June and July although flowers continue to appear until March.

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described in 1989 in the journal Muelleria

Muelleria

Muelleria is a peer-reviewed scientific journal on botany published by the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne. It focuses on topics relating to plants, algae, and fungi in the southern hemisphere and Australia in particular. The journal was named in honour of Victorian Government botanist Ferdinand...

based on plant material collected from Marble Gully in 1988. Prior to this, it was informally known as Olearia sp. Nunniong.

Distribution and habitat

The species is restricted to Marble Gully, near Mount Tambo

Mount Tambo

Mount Tambo is a mountain located to the north-east of Omeo in Victoria, Australia. Its peak is 1430 metres above sea level. It lies within the boundaries of the 6050 hectare Marble Gully - Mount Tambo Nature Conservation Reserve....

 in East Gippsland

East Gippsland

East Gippsland is the eastern region of Gippsland, Australia covering 31,740 square kilometres of Victoria. It has a population of 80,114....

. It grows on skeletal soils on steep north-facing slopes at an altitude of about 600 metres above sea level. Associated plant species are Allocasuarina verticillata

Allocasuarina verticillata

Allocasuarina verticillata or drooping sheoak is a nitrogen fixing native tree of southeastern Australia. Originally collected in Tasmania and described as Casuarina verticillata by French naturalist Jean-Baptiste Lamarck in 1786, it was moved to its current genus in 1982 by Australian botanist...

, Eucalyptus nortonii, Pomaderris oraria

Pomaderris oraria

Pomaderris oraria, commonly known as Bassian Pomaderris, is a shrub species native to the states of Victoria and Tasmania in Australia.Two subspecies are currently recognised:...

subsp. calcicola, Ozothamnus adnatus and Themeda triandra

Themeda triandra

Themeda triandra is a perennial grass widespread in Africa, Australia, Asia and the Pacific. In Australia it is commonly known as kangaroo grass, in East and South Africa it is known as "red oat grass" or red grass, in Afrikaans, rooigras.The species has a tuffted habit and can reach up to 1.5 m...

.

Conservation

Olearia astroloba is listed as "vulnerable" under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is an Act of the Parliament of Australia that provides a framework for protection of the Australian environment, including its biodiversity and its natural and culturally significant places...

 and "threatened" under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. The total population is estimated to be 1,030 plants within a 40 hectare area. Potential threats include inappropriate fire regimes, weed invasion, grazing by stock and rabbits and mining for marble.

Cultivation

The species prefer a well-drained position in full sun or part shade. It is able to withstand drought and moderate frost. Pruning promotes new growth and increased flowering. Propagation is by cuttings or seed, though a large percentage of the latter is often non-viable.