Abrotanella caespitosa
| Abrotanella caespitosa | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Genus: | Abrotanella |
| Species: | A. caespitosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Abrotanella caespitosa | |
Abrotanella caespitosa is a member of the daisy family and is an endemic species of New Zealand.[1]
Description
Abrotanella caespitosa forms a loose cushion habit with runners that have distant scale leaves. It has narrower leaves compared to its close relatives and lacks a waxy bloom on its leaves.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The species is found in the South Island and southern North Island of New Zealand.[3] It grows in alpine herbfield habitats.[2]
Taxonomy and evolution
Abrotanella caespitosa is closely related to A. inconspicua, A. nivigena (from Australia), and A. patearoa. These four species form a well-supported clade and have almost identical DNA sequences, suggesting they diverged within the last 500,000 years. Abrotanella caespitosa is part of a radiation of Abrotanella species that occurred during the Pliocene and Pleistocene, associated with mountain building and glaciation episodes.[2]
Gallery
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Herbarium specimen from the Auckland War Memorial Museum -
Close-up and root system of A. caespitosa -
Flowering A. caespitosa -
A. caespitosa growing in a rocky alpine environment in the Nelson Lakes National Park
References
- ^ Kew Science Plants of the World Online, retrieved 26 June 2020
- ^ a b c Wagstaff, Steven J.; Breitwieser, Ilse; Swenson, Ulf (2006). "Origin and relationships of the austral genus Abrotanella (Asteraceae) inferred from DNA sequences". Taxon. 55 (1): 95–106. doi:10.2307/25065531. JSTOR 25065531.
- ^ "Abrotanella caespitosa Fact Sheet". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 28 September 2024.