Olearia trifurcata

Olearia trifurcata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a dense, upright, tussock-like subshrub with narrowly triangular, grass-like leaves, and white and pale yellow, daisy-like inflorescences.

Description

Olearia trifurcata is a dense, upright, tussock-like subshrub that typically grows up to high and wide and has sticky branchlets and leaves. Its leaves are narrowly triangular and grass-like, long and wide. The heads or daisy-like "flowers" are arranged on the ends of branches and are sessile with a narrowly conical or oval involucre at the base. Each head has 2 to 4 white ray florets, the ligule wide surrounding 3 pale yellow disc florets. Flowering occurs in January and February and the fruit is an achene long, the pappus with 40 to 52 bristles.

Taxonomy

Olearia trifurcata was first described in 2008 by Nicholas Sèan Lander in the journal Nuytsia from specimens collected by William Archer near Esperance in 1990. The specific epithet means "three-forked", referring to the branching habit of the subshrub.

Distribution and habitat

This olearia grows in low shrubland on the edges of salt lakes in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie and Malle bioregions of southern Western Australia.

Conservation status

Olearia trifurculata is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.