Maireana brevifolia is a shrub that is native to Australia and naturalised in South Africa, the Middle East and the Canary Islands.[1] Common names in Australia include cotton bush, eastern cotton-bush, short-leaf bluebush, small-leaf bluebush and yanga bush.[2][3] It grows to between 0.2 and 1 metre high.[4] The flower-like fruits are up to 9 mm in diameter and comprise 5 paper-thin wings.[5] It is one of the first species to appear in disturbed saline habitats.[4]
| Maireana brevifolia | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Caryophyllales |
| Family: | Amaranthaceae |
| Genus: | Maireana |
| Species: | M. brevifolia
|
| Binomial name | |
| Maireana brevifolia | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
It has been used as a dry-season fodder plant in South Africa[1] and Namibia where it is known as Australian bluebush.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b L. Mucina, D. A. Snijman; Snijman (2011). "Maireana brevifolia (Chenopodiaceae: Camphorosmeae), a new naturalized alien plant species in South Africa". Bothalia - African Biodiversity and Conservation. 41 (2): 235–238. doi:10.4102/abc.v41i2.55.
- ^ "Maireana brevifolia". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ "Maireana brevifolia". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Maireana brevifolia". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ Wild Plants of Victoria (database). Viridans Biological Databases & Department of Sustainability and Environment. 2009.
- ^ Rothauge, Axel (25 February 2014). "Staying afloat during a drought". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 25 February 2014.