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==Taxonomy==
==Taxonomy==


M. astrotricha belongs to the Maireana genus of 57 species.<ref name="ALA">{{cite web |title=Species: Maireana astrotricha (Low Bluebush) |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2895635 |website=Atlas of Living Australia |access-date=8 June 2024 |language=en-AU}}</ref>. It was initially described as [[Maireana sedifolia|Kochia sedifolia var. stellulata]]<ref name=muell>Mueller, F.J.H. von (1855) [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044106365950&view=1up&seq=58 Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants: 52.] Retrieved 6 September 2019.</ref>. It was later described as separate species within Kochia, K. astrotricha. Maireana was created to reflect that Australian forms are distinct from those of the northern hemisphere Kochia <ref name=wilson>Wilson, Paul G. (1975) [https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53253933 A Taxonomic Revision of the genus ''Maireana'' (Chenopodiaceae)]. ''Nuytsia'' 2(1): 36</ref>.
M. astrotricha belongs to the Maireana genus of 57 species.<ref name="ALA">{{cite web |title=Species: Maireana astrotricha (Low Bluebush) |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2895635 |website=Atlas of Living Australia |access-date=8 June 2024 |language=en-AU}}</ref>. It was first described as [[Maireana sedifolia|Kochia sedifolia var. stellulata]]<ref name=muell>Mueller, F.J.H. von (1855) [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044106365950&view=1up&seq=58 Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants: 52.] Retrieved 6 September 2019.</ref>. Before its description in 1951 as Kochia astrotricha it was regularly confused with [[Maireana planifolia|K. planifolia]] or [[Maireana sedifolia|K. sedifolia]]. The Australian species of [[Chenopodiaceae]] within Kochia were subsequently recognised to have multiple morphologically distinct characters and were transferred to [[Maireana]]<ref name=wilson>{{cite journal |last1=Wilson |first1=Paul Graham |title=A taxonomic revision of the genus Maireana (Chenopodiaceae) |journal=Nuytsia |date=1975 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=2–82 |doi=10.58828/nuy00028 |url=https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/nuytsia/article/28 |access-date=9 June 2024}}</ref>.


==Distribution & habitat==
==Distribution & habitat==

Revision as of 11:26, 13 June 2024


Erayner/sandbox/Maireana astrotricha
Foliage and fruit
Habit
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Maireana
Species:
M. astrotricha
Binomial name
Maireana astrotricha
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[1]
  • Kochia astrotricha L.A.S.Johnson
  • Kochia sedifolia var. stellulata J.M.Black

Maireana astrotricha, the low bluebush (a name it shares with Maireana planifolia), is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, native to a southern portion of the Northern Territory, central South Australia, western New South Wales, and adjacent parts of Queensland.[1][2] It is usually found growing in open habitats, typically in gravelly, well-drained soils.[2]

Etymology & naming

Description

M. astrotricha is a small, bluish-white, round shrub up to 1m high [3]. The leaves and branches have a downy covering of branched hairs. The leaves are 5-10mm long, succulent, alternate with an obovate shape that narrows to a short stalk.[4]. It resembles and has been mistaken for Maireana sedifolia and which can be distinguished from M. astrotricha by its simple hairs, stalkless leaves and paired flowers.[5][6]

Size/Leaves/ OK

TODO: Bark Branches/ Flowers/ Seeds

Taxonomy

M. astrotricha belongs to the Maireana genus of 57 species.[7]. It was first described as Kochia sedifolia var. stellulata[8]. Before its description in 1951 as Kochia astrotricha it was regularly confused with K. planifolia or K. sedifolia. The Australian species of Chenopodiaceae within Kochia were subsequently recognised to have multiple morphologically distinct characters and were transferred to Maireana[9].

Distribution & habitat

North of the Murray river, throughout western New South Wales, South Australia, Southern Northern Territory and the South Western corner of Queensland. Usually in well-drained gravelly soil in open situations. Bluebush communities are found where limestone is present in the soil.[10]

In western NSW from the Murray to the Queensland border it replaces Maireana sedifolia, becoming more frequent in the north. [4]


In south Australia [3]


Ecology

M. astrotricha provides shelter to reptiles and may have other ecological roles. In a study north of Broken Hill where M. astrotricha is abundant, the Central netted dragon was observed to prefer Maireana sp. as a perch, but was not found to feed on it.[11]. Elsewhere at Roxby Downs, Ctenotus leonhardii presence was strongly associated with a high density of Maireana sp. (including M. astrotricha) but was not found to feed on it.[12]. Tiliqua rugosa was observed to prefer (conspecific?) M. sedifolia selectively as a daytime refuge, possibly to seek protection from high temperatures in the shade from the bushes. [13]

M. astrotricha is an important component of the habitat for the threatened Chestnut-breasted whiteface which relies on it for cover and to nest [14]. The Cinnamon Quail-thrush often associates with the Chestnut-breasted whiteface and also uses Maireana sp. for nest site and cover.[14]. The Southern Whiteface and Banded Whiteface may also found in Maireana sp. habitat within the range of M. astrotricha[15][16].

The northern Flinders population of the Thick-billed grasswren (Amytornis modestus raglessi) prefers Maireana pyramidata, it is also recorded less frequently in M. astrotricha. [17]

Reproduction & dispersal

Uses

More acceptable to stock than pearl bluebush [4].


  • Close-up of flowers and stalked leaves
    Close-up of flowers and stalked leaves
  • Maireana astrotricha shrubland
    Maireana astrotricha shrubland

References

  1. ^ a b "Maireana astrotricha (L.A.S.Johnson) Paul G.Wilson". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b George, Alexander S. (1984). Flora of Australia: Volume 4; Phytolaccaceae to Chenopodiaceae (PDF). Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. p. 198.
  3. ^ a b "Fact sheet for Maireana astrotricha". Electronic Flora of South Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Cunningham, Geoffrey M (2011). Plants of western New South Wales. Collingwood: CSIRO publ. pp. 265–267. ISBN 9780643103634.
  5. ^ Cunningham, Geoffrey M (2011). Plants of western New South Wales. Collingwood: CSIRO publ. p. 274. ISBN 9780643103634.
  6. ^ Wotton, Noelene Joy (1993). Aspects of the autecology of the pearl bluebush, Mairenana sedifolia (Ph.D. thesis). University of Adelaide, Dept. of Botany. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Species: Maireana astrotricha (Low Bluebush)". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  8. ^ Mueller, F.J.H. von (1855) Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants: 52. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  9. ^ Wilson, Paul Graham (1975). "A taxonomic revision of the genus Maireana (Chenopodiaceae)". Nuytsia. 2 (1): 2–82. doi:10.58828/nuy00028. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  10. ^ Cunningham, Geoffrey M (2011). Plants of western New South Wales. Collingwood: CSIRO publ. p. 21. ISBN 9780643103634.
  11. ^ MacMillen, Richard E.; Augee, Michael L.; Ellis, Beverly A. (1 March 1989). "Thermal ecology and diet of some xerophilous lizards from western New South Wales". Journal of Arid Environments. 16 (2): 193–201. doi:10.1016/S0140-1963(18)31026-7.
  12. ^ Read, J. L. (December 1995). "Subhabitat variability: A key to the high reptile diversity in chenopod shrublands". Australian Journal of Ecology. 20 (4): 494–501. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1995.tb00568.x.
  13. ^ Kerr, Gregory D.; Bull, C. Michael; Burzacott, Dale (April 2003). "Refuge sites used by the scincid lizard Tiliqua rugosa". Austral Ecology. 28 (2): 152–160. doi:10.1046/j.1442-9993.2003.01268.x.
  14. ^ a b P.J (2002). Higgins; Peter, J.M (eds.). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes (Vol. 6 ed.). Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. pp. 561–567. Cite error: The named reference "hanzab_cw" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  15. ^ P.J (2002). Higgins; Peter, J.M (eds.). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes (Vol. 6 ed.). Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. pp. 550–560.
  16. ^ P.J (2002). Higgins; Peter, J.M (eds.). Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic birds: Pardalotes to Shrike-thrushes (Vol. 6 ed.). Melbourne, VIC: Oxford University Press. pp. 568–574.
  17. ^ del Hoyo, Josep; Collar, Nigel; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020). "Thick-billed Grasswren (Amytornis modestus), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.thbgra4.01. Retrieved 10 June 2024.


References


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