''Asterolasia rupestris'' is a species of erect 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 New South Wales. It has heart-shaped to triangular leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and densely covered with star-shaped hairs. The flowers are yellow and arranged singly or in groups of three to six in leaf

axil A leaf ( : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, st ...

s or on the ends of branchlets, 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 ...

s densely covered with rust-coloured, star-shaped hairs.

Description

''Asterolasia rupestris'' is an shrub that typically grows to a height of . The leaves are heart-shaped to triangular with the narrower end towards the base, long and wide on a short petiole. The leaves are densely covered with star-shaped hairs, the lower surface with cobwebby hairs. The flowers are arranged in

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 of three to six in leaf axils or on the ends of branchlets, the umbels on a peduncle long, 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

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s are long and the

s are yellow, elliptical, long, covered with rust-coloured, star-shaped hairs on the back. There are ten stamens. Flowering occurs in spring.

Taxonomy

''Asterolasia rupestris'' was first formally described in 2002 by Bryan J. Mole in the journal '' Muelleria'' from specimens collected on

Mount Kaputar Mount Kaputar, a mountain with an elevation of above sea level, is located near Narrabri in northern New South Wales. It is part of the Nandewar Range and has been preserved within the Mount Kaputar National Park. The mountain is a prominent l ...

in 1987. In the same journal, Mole described two subspecies: * ''Asterolasia rupestris'' subsp. ''recurva'' that differs from the

autonym Autonym may refer to: * Autonym, the name used by a person to refer to themselves or their language; see Exonym and endonym * Autonym (botany), an automatically created infrageneric or infraspecific name See also * Nominotypical subspecies, in zo ...

in having the edges of the leaves turned downwards rather than flat; * ''Asterolasia rupestris'' subsp. ''rupestris''.

Distribution and habitat

This species grows in heath, shrubland and woodland, usually on

trachyte Trachyte () is an extrusive igneous rock composed mostly of alkali feldspar. It is usually light-colored and aphanitic (fine-grained), with minor amounts of mafic minerals, and is formed by the rapid cooling of lava enriched with silica and al ...

. Subspecies ''rupestris'' grows on the higher parts of Mount Kaputar and there are old records from

Mount Canobolas Mount Canobolas, a mountain on a spur of the Great Dividing Range, is located in the Central Tablelands region of New South Wales, Australia. With an elevation of above sea level, Mount Canobolas, an extinct volcano, is the highest mountain i ...

. Subspecies ''recurva'' is only known from Parlour Mountain, north west of

Armidale Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale had a population of 24,504 as of June 2018. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region. It ...

in New South Wales.

Gallery

Image:PB06 Asterolasia rupestris subsp rupestris.jpg, Habit Image:PB10 Asterolasia rupestris subsp rupestris - third plant.jpg, Habitat

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15387752 rupestris Flora of New South Wales Plants described in 2002