bio.wikisort.org - Plant

Podolepis robusta, commonly known as alpine podolepis, mountain lettuce or cattleman's lettuce, is a perennial herb from the Australian Alps in the family Asteraceae.[1][2]

Podolepis robusta
Podolepis robusta Alpine National Park, Victoria
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Podolepis
Species:	P. robusta
Binomial name
Podolepis robusta (Maiden & Betche) J.H.Willis
Synonyms[1]
Podolepis longipedata var. robusta Maiden & Betche Podolepis acuminata var. robusta (Maiden & Betche) J.H.Willis

Description

The species has a thick, upright single stem and reaches up to 60 cm in height, with yellow inflorescences that are around 25 mm in diameter. These appear in summer.[2] Spathulate basal leaves clasp the stem and are up to 20 cm in length.[2] Leaves on the stem above these are smaller and decrease in size with height.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was initially described in 1898 as Podolepis longipedata var. robusta based on plant material collected from Australia's highest mountain, Mount Kosciuszko.[1] In 1942, it was renamed as Podolepis acuminata var. robusta by botanist Jim Willis.[1] He elevated it to species status in 1954.[1]

Distribution

Podolepis robusta is found in alpine grassland, commonly in association with snow gums.[2][4] It occurs in the Australian Alps, southwards from Mount Gingera in the Australian Capital Territory.[2]

References

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