''Microseris lanceolata'' is an Australian alpine herb with yellow flowers and one of three plants known as

murnong The murnong or yam daisy is any of the plants ''Microseris walteri'', '' Microseris lanceolata'' and ''Microseris scapigera'', which are an important food source for many Aboriginal peoples in southern parts of Australia. The roots of the murnong ...

or yam daisy along with ''

Microseris scapigera ''Microseris scapigera'' is a yellow-flowered daisy, a perennial herb, found in New Zealand and Australia. It is the only New Zealand species of ''Microseris'', and one of three Australian species along with ''Microseris lanceolata'' and ''Micr ...

'' and ''

Microseris walteri ''Microseris walteri'' is an Australian perennial herb with yellow flowers and edible tuberous roots, and one of three plants known as murnong or yam daisy along with ''Microseris scapigera'' and ''Microseris lanceolata''. The plant is found in ...

.'' The plant is found in southern parts of Australia, including

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seyche ...

NSW ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , e ...

and ACT. In Victoria, the plant is confined to alpine and subalpine herbfields of the eastern ranges, and often locally plentiful. ''Microseris walteri'' and ''Microseris scapigera'' are found in lower altitude areas. Commercial plant nurseries will often mislabel a ''Microseris scapigera'' plant with the name of ''Microseris lanceolata'', because the binomial name was only clarified in recent years. Literature about

Murnong The murnong or yam daisy is any of the plants ''Microseris walteri'', '' Microseris lanceolata'' and ''Microseris scapigera'', which are an important food source for many Aboriginal peoples in southern parts of Australia. The roots of the murnong ...

often misidentifies ''Microseris lanceolata'' as having a sweet-tasting tuber, but this refers to the ''Microseris walteri'' plant.

Botanical naming

For more than 30 years murnong was named as ''Microseris'' sp. or ''Microseris lanceolata'' or ''Microseris scapigera''. Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria botanist Neville Walsh clarified the botanical name of ''Microseris walteri'' in 2016 and defined the differences in the three species in the table below.

Biological descriptions

''Microseris lanceolata'' has the form of a tufted rosette of toothed lanceolate leaves. The flower is a yellow head of florets, similar to flatweed (

Hypochaeris radicata ''Hypochaeris radicata'' (sometimes spelled ''Hypochoeris radicata'') – also known as catsear, flatweed, cat's-ear, hairy cat's ear, or false dandelion – is a perennial, low-lying edible herb often found in lawns. The plant is native to Eu ...

) or dandelion ( Taraxacum). In its natural alpine and subalpine environment, the flower begins to blossom in December when the temperature reaches about 20C. The flower stalk is pendulous before flowering, becoming erect for flowering to attract pollinators and again with the ripening of the seed head. The seed heads ripen to a cluster of fluffy, tan achenes, each having a crown of fine extensions called a pappus. The seeds are dispersed by wind. The plant has several fleshy roots branching just below ground level, rather than a tuber like ''Microseris walteri''.

Cultivation and uses

The edible tuberous roots of

plants were an important source of food for some

Aboriginal Australian Aboriginal Australians are the various Indigenous peoples of the Australian mainland and many of its islands, such as Tasmania, Fraser Island, Hinchinbrook Island, the Tiwi Islands, and Groote Eylandt, but excluding the Torres Strait Island ...

peoples. However, the descriptions of murnong are more closely aligned with ''Microseris walteri''. To add to the confusion, commercial nurseries will commonly mislabel a ''Microseris scapigera'' plant as ''Microseris lanceolata''.

Gallery

File:Mlanceolata2.jpg, ''Microseris lanceolata'' flower, approximately 5cm wide File:Mlanceolata5.jpg, ''Microseris lanceolata'' roots, branching just below ground-level File:Murnong clock.png, Murnong seed clock File:Microserisseeds.jpg, Seed comparison, from left to right: ''Microseris scapigera'', ''Microseris walteri'' and ''Microseris lanceolata''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q6840061 lanceolata Asterales of Australia Flora of Victoria (Australia) Root vegetables Plants described in 1840