''Asterolasia muricata'', commonly known as lemon star-bush, is a species of small, slender, erect shrub that is endemic to South Australia. It has leathery leaves covered with rough points and with the edges rolled under, and yellow flowers arranged singly or in groups of up to three, with woolly star-shaped hairs on the back of the

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 ...

Description

''Asterolasia muricata'' is a slender, erect shrub that typically grows to a height of about . It has leathery leaves long on a short petiole with the edges rolled under. The upper surface of the leaves is covered with rough points but the lower surface is covered with woolly, star-shaped hairs. The flowers are sessile, arranged singly or in groups of two or three 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 ...

up to long. The

s are yellow, broadly elliptical, about long and covered with woolly, star-shaped hairs on the back. There are ten

stamen The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

Taxonomy

''Asterolasia muricata'' was first described in 1912 by John McConnell Black who published the description in ''

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia The Royal Society of South Australia (RSSA) is a learned society whose interest is in science, particularly, but not only, of South Australia. The major aim of the society is the promotion and diffusion of scientific knowledge, particularly in rel ...

''.

Distribution and habitat

''Asterolasia muricata'' grows in sandy heath and is found on Kangaroo Island and on the southern tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15387292 muricata Sapindales of Australia Flora of South Australia Plants described in 1912 Taxa named by John McConnell Black