New Holland Daisies - native (Vittadinia species)

Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family).

Natives of Australia.

Occurrence: Widespread and fairly common in woodlands and grasslands.

Identification:

• they are small daisies
• they are slightly woody and branched
• the leaves are usually silvery
• the petals are blue-purple and are short (1 to 2 mm)
• the leaves may be spoon-shaped or narrow
• the leaves may have a pair (or more) of lobes
• the seeds have ribs which are usually shortly hairy; the edge of the seeds may or may not have hairs

The first two species (listed below) are common in Central Victoria:

Common New Holland Daisy (V. cuneata)

The stems may have hairs but is never covered with dense cottony hairs. The seeds have hairs on the marginal ribs.

Woolly New Holland Daisy (V. gracilis)

Dense cottony hairs, particularly on the young stems. The seeds have hairs on the marginal ribs.

Mueller's New Holland Daisy (Vittadinia muelleri

Leaves narrow with 1-3 lobes. Leaves with scattered hairs. The seeds have hairs on the ribs, but not on the marginal ribs. Rib hairs short and pressed against the seed. Rare.

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