Botanical art
Prior names
Brachycome neglecta
Brachycome exilis
Common names
Finger-leaf Daisy
Finger-leaved Daisy
Etymology
Brachyscome from the Greek 'brachys' meaning short and 'kome' meaning hair, referring to the tufts of short bristles or hairs of the pappus. Exilis from the Latin 'exile' meaning thin, slender, alluding to its wiry appearance.
Distribution and status
Found in the southern part of South Australia from the Eyre Peninsula to the lower South-east, growing on red sandy soil in bluebush, and saline flats. Also found in Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Annual herb to 18 cm high with erect to ascending, weak, slender, hairless stems. Basal leaves oblanceolate, entire to lobed, to 4 cm long and 8 mm wide, narrowed at the base, hairless. Upper leaves entire to lobed, broad to 2 cm long and 5 mm wide. Flowers white, appearing between August and November. Fruits are small brown daisy-heads. Seeds are pale brown 4-angled seed to 1.5 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, with short scattered hairs. Seed embryo type is spatulate fully developed.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and January. Pick heads that are maturing, drying off, with brown seeds that dislodge easily. Place the seed-heads in a tray and leave to dry for a week. Then gently rub the heads by hand to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability can be average. This species has physiological dormancy that needs to be overcome for the seed to germinate. Daily fluctuating temperatures representing spring, summer or winter stimulate germination. Constant temperatures are not as good for germination. Gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate can increase germination rates.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA MSB | 10,500 (3.18 g) 10,500 (3.18 g) | 25-Oct-2005 | DJD155 Murray | 1-Aug-2007 | 10% | -18°C | |
| BGA | 1,320 (0.3143 g) | 1-Jan-2007 | PJA140 South Eastern | 1-Aug-2007 | 25% | -18°C | |
| BGA | 5,700 (1.33 g) | 50+ | 7-Dec-2006 | PJA140 South Eastern | 1-Aug-2007 | 25% | -18°C |
| BGA | 13,900 (1.57 g) | 15-Oct-2009 | DJD1610 Yorke Peninsula | 1-Jan-2012 | 98% | -18°C |
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.