''Blennospora'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of flowering plants in the aster family,

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

. There are three species, all

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 ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

.Keighery, G. J. (2002)
A new species of ''Blennospora'' (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) from the Swan and Scott coastal plains of Western Australia.
''Nuytsia'' 15(1), 33-36. The genus was first described by

Asa Gray Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botanist of the 19th century. His ''Darwiniana'' was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessarily mutually excl ...

in 1851, with the generic name from the Greek, βλέννη (mucus), and σπόρων (seed)

"allud(ing) to the cellular pellicle of the achaenium becoming gelatinous when moistened, as in ''Cephalosoriis phyllocepkalus'', but even more strikingly. This pellicle consists of a close coating of linear or subclavate diaphanous cells, compactly arranged with their long diameter perpendicular to the smooth brown pericarp: on the application of water it promptly swells into a mass of transparent jelly, very much thicker than the enclosed achsenium. The gorged mucous cells remain unbroken for a considerable time, and their extremely delicate walls show no markings, nor any contained coiled bands or fibres."

Species: *'' Blennospora doliiformis'' (

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

) *'' Blennospora drummondii'' (Western Australia,

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

, Victoria) *'' Blennospora phlegmatocarpa'' (Western Australia)

References

External links

''Blennospora'' species profiles.
FloraBase. Western Australian Herbarium. Gnaphalieae Asteraceae genera Endemic flora of Australia Plants described in 1851 Taxa named by Asa Gray {{Gnaphalieae-stub