Xanthosia rotundifolia
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| Southern cross | |
|---|---|
| |
| Xanthosia rotundifolia near Torndirrup | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Xanthosia |
| Species: | X. rotundifolia |
| Binomial name | |
| Xanthosia rotundifolia | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
Xanthosia rotundifolia is an erect perennial herb that typically grows to a height of up to 60 cm (24 in).[2] Its leaves are round to egg-shaped or wedge-shaped, and leathery[2] with serrated or toothed edges.[3] 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.[2] 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.[4][5] The specific epithet (rotundifolia) means "round-leaved".[6]
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.[2][7]