Plants of South Eastern New South Wales

Calotis cuneifolia

Flower heads and leaves. Australian Plant Image Index, photographer Murray Fagg, Weddin Mountains National Park near Grenfell

Flower heads and spent flower heads on leafy stems. Australian Plant Image Index, photographer Murray Fagg, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra, ACT

Flowering plant. Australian Plant Image Index, photographer Murray Fagg, near West Wyalong

Line drawings. a. plant; seed. E Mayfield, National Herbarium of Victoria, © 2021 Royal Botanic Gardens Board

Common name

Purple burr-daisy, Lachlan calotis, Blue burr-daisy

Family

Asteraceae

Where found

A wide range of habitats. Northern ACT. Western Slopes. Tablelands and ranges north from Tallaganda National Park. Sydney area.

Notes

Perennial herb to 0.6 m tall or sprawling to prostrate, more or less woody at the base. 'Seeds' with 2-4 spines, barbed at the tips, forming burrs composed of several seeds. 'Seeds' stick to clothing. Stems covered with stiff hairs, becoming hairless. Leaves at the base of the plant soon withering. Stem leaves alternating up the stems, 0.6-4 cm long, 3-20 mm wide, sparsely hairy, usually with 3-11 teeth or pointed lobes near or at the tips, bases usually with broad auriculate lobes, sometimes stem-clasping.  Flower heads 6-20 mm in diameter, with 25–55 blue to mauve, purple, or white 'petals' 3-9 mm long, and yellow centres. Flowers throughout the year, mainly Spring.

Definite identification of all species of Calotis is made by examining the seeds.

All native plants on unleased land in the ACT are protected.

Rare Vic.

PlantNET description:   http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Calotis~cuneifolia 
(accessed 7 January, 2021)