Rhodanthe anthemoides

Location & distribution maps

Common name:         Chamomile Sunray

Conservation status: Rare in Tasmania

• Although a widespread species on the mainland, in Tasmania it is listed as "rare" under the Threatened Species Protection Act

Etymology:   

• The name Rhodanthe is derived from Greek rhodon, rose and anthos, flower

• The specific epithet (anthemoides) means like Anthemis

Flowers:

• The flowers heads are borne singly at the end of slender stems arising from the base

• Inner involucral bracts are white, papery, elliptic shaped, about 6 mm long and the 30-40 florets yellow

• Flowering occurs from September to February and the fruit is a small, dry achene, about 2 mm long and covered with silky hairs

Fruit:                            

Leaves:         

• The leaves are arranged alternate, sometimes crowded, thick, linear or lance-shaped, 4–15 mm long, 0.5–2 mm wide

• Mostly smooth, margins and mid-rib with occasional glandular hairs

Stem & branches: 

Roots:         

Habit:        

• An upright to ascending, bushy perennial up to 30 cm high and up to 60 cm wide

Habitat:   

• Sandy, rocky and alpine herb fields

Distribution:                  

• A widespread species in Queensland, NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania

Additional notes:     

• Taxonomy 

  • This species was first described in 1826 as Helichrysum anthemoides by Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel from an unpublished description by Franz Sieber

  • In 1992 Paul G. Wilson changed the name to Rhodanthe anthemoides and the description was published in Nuytsia

• Cultivation

  • The species is commonly cultivated, preferring a well drained, lightly shaded situation

  • Cutting back after flowering prevents plants from becoming straggly

  •  Plants are well suited to being grown in containers

  • Propagation is from seed or cuttings, named cultivars requiring the latter method to be true to type

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodanthe_anthemoides (2023)