{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Brachyscome_angustifolia.jpg |image_caption = ''Brachyscome graminea'' |display_parents = 3 |taxon = Brachyscome |authority = Cass. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = See List of ''Brachyscome'' species }}
'''''Brachyscome''''' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Most are endemic to Australia, and a few occur in New Zealand and New Guinea.<ref name=nsw>[http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Brachyscome Genus ''Brachyscome''.] PlantNet. New South Wales Flora Online. The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney.</ref>
==Name== The genus name is spelled ''Brachycome'' by some authors. Henri Cassini published the name ''Brachyscome'' in 1816, forming it from the classical Greek ''brachys'' ("short") and ''kome'' ("hair"), a reference to the very short pappus bristles. Because the combining form of ''brachys'' in Greek compound words is ''brachy-'', Cassini later corrected the spelling to ''Brachycome''. Australian taxonomists still debate whether Cassini's corrected spelling is admissible under the rules of botanical nomenclature. A proposal to conserve ''Brachycome'' was rejected in 1993 by the Committee for Spermatophyta.<ref name=brummitt>Brummitt, R. K. (1993). [https://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1222553?uid=3739560&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21102625160471 Report of the Committee for Spermatophyta: 38.] ''Taxon'' 42(3), 687-97.</ref>
==Genetics== One of the annual plains species, ''Brachyscome dichromosomatica'', is remarkable for its low chromosome count. In this species ''n''=2, though some plants have 1, 2 or 3 additional large B chromosomes.<ref name=carter>Carter, C. R. (1978). Taxonomy of the ''Brachycome lineariloba'' complex (Asteraceae). ''Telopea'' 5, 387-93.</ref> The genus has an unusually large range of chromosome counts, from ''n''=2 to ''n''=18.<ref name=wata/>
==Description== These are annual and perennial herbs and small shrubs. Species have a basal rosette of leaves and/or leaves alternately arranged on the stem. The blades are entire or divided. The flower heads are solitary or borne in small corymbs. The head has a row of ray florets in shades of white, blue, pink, or mauve, and yellow disc florets.<ref name=nsw/>
===Fruit=== The genus is distinguished from other genera in tribe Astereae mainly by the structure of the fruit. These achenes or cypselas are roughly club-shaped but usually incurved and flattened. They often have a membranous rim or wing around the edge that is sometimes wavy or fringed. The pappus is less than one millimeter long in most species.<ref name=everett>Everett, J. "''Brachycome''". In: Harden, G. J. (ed.) ''Flora of New South Wales'' volume 3, pages 155-67. University of New South Wales Press. 1992.</ref>
==Habitat== ''Brachyscome'' species are found in a wide range of habitats. They occupy rainy coastal and mountainous regions as well as dry central Australia.<ref name=wata>Watanabe, K., et al. (1999). [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/PL00013869#page-1 Chromosomal evolution in the genus ''Brachyscome'' (Asteraceae, Astereae): statistical tests regarding correlation between changes in karyotype and habit using phylogenetic information.] ''Journal of Plant Research'' 112(2), 145-61.</ref>
==Cultivation== Some ''Brachyscome'' species, notably ''Brachyscome iberidifolia'' (Swan river daisy), are popular as easily cultivated ornamental plants for flower gardens, and many cultivars are bred for their form, foliage, and flowers.<ref>[http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/visit-cranbourne/attractions/plant-collections/research-garden Research Garden.] Royal Botanic Gardens, Cranbourne.</ref>
==Species== There are between 65 and 80 species in the genus.<ref name=nsw/><ref name=wata/><ref>[http://www.theplantlist.org/browse/A/Compositae/Brachyscome/ ''Brachyscome''.] The Plant List.</ref> {{Main|List of Brachyscome species}} Species include: *''Brachyscome aculeata'' – hill daisy *''Brachyscome ascendens'' *''Brachyscome basaltica'' – swamp daisy *''Brachyscome chrysoglossa'' - yellow-tongue daisy *''Brachyscome ciliaris'' - variable daisy *''Brachyscome decipiens'' – field daisy *''Brachyscome dentata'' *''Brachyscome graminea'' - stiff daisy, grassland daisy *''Brachyscome iberidifolia'' - Swan River daisy *''Brachyscome mittagongensis'' *''Brachyscome multifida'' - cut-leaved daisy, rock daisy, Hawkesbury daisy *''Brachyscome nivalis'' – snow daisy *''Brachyscome scapigera'' - tufted daisy *''Brachyscome segmentosa'' - Lord Howe daisy, mountain daisy
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== *Watanabe, K. and P. S. Short. (1992). [http://www.lib.kobe-u.ac.jp/repository/90001250.pdf Chromosome number determinations in ''Brachyscome''.] ''Muelleria'' 7, 451–71.
==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} *[https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/search/advanced?genus=brachyscome ''Brachyscome'' species records.] FloraBase. Western Australian Herbarium.
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Category:Brachyscome Category:Asteraceae genera Category:Plants described in 1816 Category:Flora of Australia Category:Taxa named by Henri Cassini