Cymbonotus lawsonianus
Encyclopedia
Cymbonotus lawsonianus, commonly known as bear's ears, is a species of small shrub in the daisy family
from southeastern Australia. It has been described as Arctotis lawsoniana. It is one of three species in the small genus Cymbonotus
. It was named in honour of the explorer William Lawson.
Cymbonotus lawsonianus is a herbaceous perennial which may reach 30 cm (12 in) high, its leaves arranged in a rosette pattern on the ground. The leaves themselves are ovate, lanceolate or elliptic, and measure anywhere from 2 to 25 cm (0.8–10 in) long, 2–9 cm (0.8-3.6 in) wide, with margins entire or toothed.
The yellow flowers occur from autumn to spring (march to october), and are pollinated by insects. They are followed by small black seeds in early spring (September and October).
It is found from Toowoomba and the Darling Downs in south-eastern Queensland southwards throughout New South Wales, and into northern Victoria, southeastern South Australia and Tasmania. It grows on both clay and sandstone soils and various loams in between, often in forest or open woodland. It can also be found in parks and gardens.
Molecular studies of African genera and C. lawsonianus showed the plant to be very closely related to the genera Arctotis
and Haplocarpha
, suggesting they must have been dispersed across the Indian Ocean to Australia somehow.
It is adaptable to the home garden and grows in a variety of soils, although does not tolerate waterlogging. It is a good rockery plant. Early settlers mixed the plant in lard and used as a wound salve.
Asteraceae
The Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
from southeastern Australia. It has been described as Arctotis lawsoniana. It is one of three species in the small genus Cymbonotus
Cymbonotus
Cymbonotus is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family from southern Australia. Three species are recognised. The type species is C. lawsonianus of eastern Australia, commonly known as bear's ears.Molecular studies of African genera and C...
. It was named in honour of the explorer William Lawson.
Cymbonotus lawsonianus is a herbaceous perennial which may reach 30 cm (12 in) high, its leaves arranged in a rosette pattern on the ground. The leaves themselves are ovate, lanceolate or elliptic, and measure anywhere from 2 to 25 cm (0.8–10 in) long, 2–9 cm (0.8-3.6 in) wide, with margins entire or toothed.
The yellow flowers occur from autumn to spring (march to october), and are pollinated by insects. They are followed by small black seeds in early spring (September and October).
It is found from Toowoomba and the Darling Downs in south-eastern Queensland southwards throughout New South Wales, and into northern Victoria, southeastern South Australia and Tasmania. It grows on both clay and sandstone soils and various loams in between, often in forest or open woodland. It can also be found in parks and gardens.
Molecular studies of African genera and C. lawsonianus showed the plant to be very closely related to the genera Arctotis
Arctotis
Arctotis is a genus of about 40-50 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to southern Africa, from South Africa north to Angola. Some of the plants are alternatively placed in the genus Venidium. Many are called by the common name "African daisy", or "Gousblom" in Afrikaans...
and Haplocarpha
Haplocarpha
Haplocarpha is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family....
, suggesting they must have been dispersed across the Indian Ocean to Australia somehow.
It is adaptable to the home garden and grows in a variety of soils, although does not tolerate waterlogging. It is a good rockery plant. Early settlers mixed the plant in lard and used as a wound salve.