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Leucophyta brownii Cass.
| Family Name: | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
| Synonyms: | Calocephalus brownii |
| Common Name: | Cushion Bush, Smoke Bush |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Shrub |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial, Semi-Annual / Annual-Like |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Shrubby |
| Maximum Height | 0.2 m to 1.2 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 0.5 m to 1.5 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Australia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Coastal Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Temperate, Mediterranean |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Dense mounding shrub resembling a tumbleweed or coral rock, up to 1.2m high and 1.5m wide in native landscape. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Tiny reduced leaves, linear to scale-like, silver-white, appressed against stems. Both stems and leaves are covered by wax. |
| Stems | Most prominent part of plant, striking silver-white in colour, wiry-looking and multi-branched. |
| Flowers | Greenish-yellow, produced in small gobular heads of inflorescences at ends of shoots. Blooming not observed so far in Singapore. |
| Fruit | Dry indehiscent, single-seeded cypsela (specialized type of achene). |
| Habitat | Endemic to southern coasts of Australia, found at exposed cliffs, rock crevices, sandy dunes and salt marshes. |
| Cultivation | Salt and wind resistant. Withstands drought well, water sparingly when plant is established. Plant may behave like a short-lived perennial (with 2-3 years lifespan), but using well-drained soils is said to extend its lifespan. Heavy soils may cause rot. Prune after flowering to maintain neat form. Propagate by stem cuttings or seeds. |
| Etymology | Genus epithet 'Calocephalus' means beautiful head, a reference to the flowers. Species epithet 'brownii' is named in honour of Scottish botanist and explorer, Robert Brown (1773-1858). |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Cut shoots can be used as accent pieces in floral arrangements. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Stems, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Container Planting, Green Roof, Coastal, General, Focal Plant |
| Thematic Landscaping | Silver Garden, Moonlight Garden, Rockery / Desert Garden |
| Plant & Rootzone Preference or Tolerance Remarks | Plant performs poorly in heavy and irrigated soils. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, [Remarks] (Water sparingly when plant is established.) |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Little Water, [Remarks] (Water sparingly when plant is established.) |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Dry Soils / Drought, Shallow Media (8 -10cm) |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Silver / Grey, White |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Scaly |
| Foliar Modification | Reduced / Needle-like |
| Typical Foliar Area | Nanophyll ( 0.25cm2 - 2.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Dicot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Bark Colour(s) | Greyish-white |
|---|---|
| Mature Bark Texture | Scaly |
| Stem Type & Modification | Woody |
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Green, Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Size - Remarks | 12mm across |
| Inflorescence Type | Head / Capitulum |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Cypsela |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 477 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1773 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |