Galenia pubescens
Galenia pubescens (Galenia or Coastal Galenia) is a low-growing perennial herb in the family Aizoaceae.[1][2] It is native to southern Africa and naturalised elsewhere.[1]
Galenia pubescens | |
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Scientific classification | |
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(unranked): | Core eudicots |
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Species: | G. pubescens |
Binomial name | |
Galenia pubescens | |
Description
The species is prostrate or decumbent with ovate to spatulate leaves which are covered with hairs when young.[1] The flowers are white with a slight pink tinge and yellow with age.[1] These are followed by capsules which contain shiny, black seeds to 1 mm in length.[1]
Naturalisation
In Australia the species is naturalised in Western Australia, South Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales.[3] In New South Wales, the species is regarded as a noxious weed in the Liverpool Plains and Tamworth regions under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993.[1]
The species is a scourge of beekeeping - it produces nectar profusely and bees like it, but the nectar makes honey taste so bad that it is inedible for humans.
References
- "Galenia pubescens". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2009-04-25.
- "Galenia pubescens". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
- "Galenia pubscens". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2009-04-25.