Brachylaena

Brachylaena
Branches of Brachylaena discolor
Inflorescences of female Brachylaena huillensis plant
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Tribe: Tarchonantheae
Genus: Brachylaena
R.Br.
Species

See text

Synonyms[1][2]
  • Oligocarpha Cass.
  • Synchodendron Bojer ex DC.

Brachylaena is a genus of flowering plants in the aster, or composite, family, Asteraceae or Compositae. Several are endemic to Madagascar, and the others are distributed in mainland Africa, especially the southern regions.[3]

These are trees and shrubs with alternately arranged leaves. One of these, Brachylaena merana, is the tallest of all composites ('daisy trees") at up to 132 feet (forty meters).[4] and Brachylaena huillensis of East Africa is of similar height. They are dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on separate individuals. The flower heads are somewhat disc-shaped. Heads with female flowers are larger and produce larger pappi.[5]

B. huillensis is the only widespread species,[3] growing as a dominant tree in Brachylaena woodlands and a common species in some eastern African forests. It provides critical habitat for many animal species. It is also sought after for its wood and has been overexploited.[6]

Species[2]

Some species are subject of dispute:

  1. ^ Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist
  2. ^ a b c d "Brachylaena R.Br". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b Beentje, H. J. (2000). The genus Brachylaena (Compositae: Mutisieae). Kew Bulletin 55(1), 1-41.
  4. ^ Carlquist, Dr. Sherwin. Island Biology. New York & London: Univ. of Columbia Press. p. 419.
  5. ^ Hyde, M. A., et al. (2013). Brachylaena. Flora of Zimbabwe.
  6. ^ Cordeiro, N. J. and M. Githiru. (2000). Conservation evaluation for birds of Brachylaena woodland and mixed dry forest in north-east Tanzania. Bird Conservation International 10(1), 47-65.