Maireana brevifolia | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Amaranthaceae |
Genus: | Maireana |
Species: | M. brevifolia
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Binomial name | |
Maireana brevifolia | |
Synonyms | |
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Maireana brevifolia is a shrub that is native to Australia and naturalised in South Africa, the Middle East and the Canary Islands.[1] Common names in Australia include cotton bush, eastern cotton-bush, short-leaf bluebush, small-leaf bluebush and yanga bush.[2][3] It grows to between 0.2 and 1 metre high.[4] The flower-like fruits are up to 9 mm in diameter and comprise 5 paper-thin wings.[5] It is one of the first species to appear in disturbed saline habitats.[4]
It has been used as a dry-season fodder plant in South Africa[1] and Namibia where it is known as Australian bluebush.[6]