Olearia arguta is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to northern Australia. It is an erect, hairy aromatic herb that typically grows to a height of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) and has oblong leaves, sometimes with a few pointed teeth near the end and produces white, blue, purple or pink daisy-like inflorescences.[2][3] It was first formally described in 1867 by George Bentham from specimens collected on an island in the Gulf of Carpentaria by Robert Brown.[4] The specific epithet (arguta) means "sharply-toothed".[5]

Olearia arguta
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Olearia
Species:
O. arguta
Binomial name
Olearia arguta
Synonyms[1]
  • Aster argutus Benth. nom. inval., pro syn.
  • Shawia arguta (Benth.) Britten

Bentham also described two subspecies and the names are accepted by the Australian Plant Census:

  • Olearia arguta Benth. var. arguta[6]
  • Olearia arguta var. lanata Benth.[7]

Olearia arguta occurs in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the Top End of the Northern Territory and in north Queensland.[2][8] It is listed as "not threatened" by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, and as of "least concern" under the Northern Territory Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976.[2][8]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Olearia arguta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Olearia arguta". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. ^ Bentham, George; von Mueller, Ferdinand (1867). Flora Australiensis. Vol. 3. Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer. pp. 487–488. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Olearia arguta". APNI. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  5. ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 137. ISBN 9780958034180.
  6. ^ "Olearia arguta var. arguta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Olearia argutavar. lanata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Olearia arguta". Northern Territory Government. Retrieved 24 February 2022.