Leucochrysum albicans subsp. tricolor

Hoary Sunray at Hackett, ACT

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Identification history

	Leucochrysum albicans subsp. tricolor	26 Dec 2015	waltraud
	Leucochrysum albicans subsp. albicans	4 Oct 2015	Louisab

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User's notes

Hand seeding some years ago has resulted in a good patch of mature plants.

5 comments

Mike wrote:

5 Oct 2015

What is the difference between var. alibicans and var. tricolour? I have seen a patch with yellow flowers and the yellow/white on the same plant as well as others that have pale centres.

BettyDonWood wrote:

5 Oct 2015

That is the reason why they are only varieties. I have never seen a plant with both colours on the same plant but I have seen a patch that graded from completely white 'petals' to completely yellow 'petals'.

Mike wrote:

7 Oct 2015

I think we should restrict var. albicans to those with yellow bracts and var. tricolor for white bracts as given in PlantNET key and other sources. Where there are some yellow flowers among the white, note that ANBG Growing Native Plants notes say var. tricolor may open yellow and fade to white.The distinction is better when the disc florets are open and the bracts start folding back. Var. tricolor is currently 'endangered' in the EPBC Act lists but there is a proposal to remove this protection as the Act does not cover plant variations. Neville Walsh of Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria proposes "Elevation of rank for L. A. var. tricolor" to subspecies in Muelleria 34:11-13. (Sorry, I need my other computer to get the source links but they are not hard to find.) Thus there is current scientific importance to getting the names right and Atlas of Living Australia has many Canberra Nature Map reports that might be incorrect. Michael Mulvaney, can you comment?

Mike wrote:

7 Oct 2015

Some of my document links are:
https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2006/leucochrysum-albicans.html
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/nominations/comment/hoary-sunray
www.rbg.vic.gov.au/.../MuelleriaVol_34_-_p11_Walsh_FOR_WEB.pdf

waltraud wrote:

27 Dec 2015

Hi Mike
Many thanks for your comments! I changed the Leuco albicans var. albicans with white bracts registered on Mt Majura to "var. tricolor".
I'm quite embarrassed to admit that I just ticked the first on the drop down list - which is albicans - when I confirmed the species/variation.
Belated Merry Christmas and enjoy the beautiful rain.
Waltraud

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