• Source: Xanthosia rotundifolia

Xanthosia rotundifolia, commonly known as southern cross, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an erect, perennial herb with serrated or toothed leaves and white to creamy-yellow flowers.




Description


Xanthosia rotundifolia is an erect perennial herb that typically grows to a height of up to 60 cm (24 in). Its leaves are round to egg-shaped or wedge-shaped, and leathery with serrated or toothed edges. The flowers are arranged in a compound umbel usually with four branches in the form of a cross, each branch 30–60 mm (1.2–2.4 in) wide with a petal-like bract 15 mm (0.59 in) long at the base. Flowering occurs over a long period with a peak in spring.




Taxonomy


Xanthosia rotundifolia was first formally described in 1829 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in Collection de Mémoires pour Servir a l'Histoire de Regne Vegetal. The specific epithet (rotundifolia) means "round-leaved".




Distribution and habitat


Southern cross grows in gravelly, lateritic soils in rocky places, swamps and open woodland in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Warren bioregions of the south-west of Western Australia.




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Xanthosia rotundifolia
• Xanthosia
• Southern Cross (disambiguation)
• Mackinlayoideae
• List of Australian plant species authored by Ferdinand von Mueller