''Asterolasia hexapetala'' is a species of erect, spreading shrub that is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the

Warrumbungles The Warrumbungles is a mountain range in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The nearest town is Coonabarabran. The area is easiest accessed from the Newell Highway which is the major road link directly between Melbourne, Victoria ...

in New South Wales. It has oblong to elliptical leaves with star-shaped hairs, especially on the lower surface, and white flowers arranged in small groups in leaf axils and on the ends of branchlets, the back of the petals densely covered with white, yellow or brown, woolly star-shaped hairs.

Description

''Asterolasia hexapetala'' is an erect, spreading shrub that typically grows to a height of . The leaves are oblong to elliptical, long and wide on a petiole long. The leaves are covered with white to brownish, woolly, star-shaped hairs, usually paler and more densely covered on the lower surface. The flowers are arranged in small

umbel In botany, an umbel is an inflorescence that consists of a number of short flower stalks (called pedicels) that spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs. The word was coined in botanical usage in the 1590s, from Latin ''umbella'' "p ...

s in leaf axils and on the ends of branchlets, each flower on a

pedicel Pedicle or pedicel may refer to: Human anatomy *Pedicle of vertebral arch, the segment between the transverse process and the vertebral body, and is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty procedures ...

long. The five

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s are white to yellow, mostly long, densely covered with white to yellow or brown, woolly, star-shaped hairs on the back. Flowering occurs in spring.

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1825 by French botanist

Antoine Laurent de Jussieu Antoine Laurent de Jussieu (; 12 April 1748 – 17 September 1836) was a French botanist, notable as the first to publish a natural classification of flowering plants; much of his system remains in use today. His classification was based on an e ...

, who gave it the name ''Phebalium hexapetalum''. In 1917,

George Claridge Druce George Claridge Druce, MA, LLD, JP, FRS, FLS (23 May 1850 – 29 February 1932) was an English botanist and a Mayor of Oxford. Personal life and education G. Claridge Druce was born at Potterspury on Watling Street in Northamptonshire. ...

changed the name to ''Asterolasia hexapetala''. The name originates from the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

words; ''aster'', ''lasios'', and ''hexapetala'', meaning star, hairy (referring to hairs on the leaves), and six-petals.

Distribution and habitat

This asterolasia is only found in the Warrumbungle Ranges where it mainly grows along watercourses in forest and woodland.

Use in horticulture

''Asterolasoa hexapetala'' prefers a moist, well drained and lightly shaded situation. Established plants are able to cope with dry periods. Plants may be propagated by cuttings or from seed, with some difficulty.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4810769 hexapetala Flora of New South Wales Sapindales of Australia Taxa named by George Claridge Druce