Ozothamnus diosmifolius

Ozothamnus diosmifolius is an erect, much-branched, woody shrub which usually grows to a height of {{convert|2|m|ft|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} but sometimes much taller. Its branches are rough and densely covered with short hairs. The leaves are sharp-smelling, usually {{convert|10-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1-2|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide but inland forms have leaves to {{convert|3.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. As with other plants in the family Asteraceae, each "flower" is actually a head of flowers, each {{convert|2-3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} in diameter. In this species, the "flowers" are themselves arranged in corymbs, the corymbs in branching heads containing from a few to hundreds of individual "flowers". The white or pinkish coloration is due to the papery ray florets around individual "flowers".{{cite web|last1=Everett|first1=Joy|title=Ozothamnus diosmifolius|url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Ozothamnus~diosmifolius|publisher=Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: plantnet|accessdate=28 August 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Beal|first1=Peter|last2=Carson|first2=Cynthia|last3=Turnbull|first3=Lois|last4=Forsberg|first4=Leif|title=Rice Flower information kit|url=http://era.daf.qld.gov.au/id/eprint/2212/1/Riceflower-production.pdf|publisher=Government of Queensland Department of Primary Industries|accessdate=28 August 2017}}

Rice flower was first formally described in 1804 by Étienne Pierre Ventenat who gave it the name Gnaphalium diosmifolium and published the description in Jardin de la Malmaison.{{cite web|title=Gnaphalium diosmifolium|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/519827|publisher=APNI|accessdate=28 August 2017}}{{cite book|last1=Ventenat|first1=Étienne Pierre|title=Jardin de la Malmaison (volume 2)|date=1804|publisher=L. E. Hernan|location=Paris|pages=74–75|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/141244#page/65/mode/1up|accessdate=28 August 2017}} In 1838, Augustin Pyramus de Candolle changed the name to Ozothamnus diosmifolius.{{cite web|title=Ozothamnus diosmifolius|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/541982|publisher=APNI|accessdate=28 August 2017}} The specific epithet (diosmifolius) is a reference to the similarity of the leaves of this species and those of Diosma.{{cite web |title=Ozothamnus diosmifolius |url=http://anpsa.org.au/o-dio.html |publisher=Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) |accessdate=27 September 2019}} The common names "rice flower" and "sago bush" refer to the appearance of the flowers in bud.

Ozothamnus diosmifolius is widespread on the coast, tablelands and western slopes of New South Wales and Queensland north from Eden to Wide Bay. It grows in heath and on rainforest margins, often on ridges.

The time of day of pollen release is different from that of stigma exposure, increasing the chances of cross-pollination.

Prior to the mid-1980s, rice flower was extensively harvested from the wild for the cut flower trade. Following research on the species, commercial cultivation commenced in 1990 and by 1999 there were about 100 growers and exports, mainly to Japan, had increased to about 600,000 stems.

Image:Ozthamn.jpg|O. diosmifolius buds

Image:Rice flower (3152807736).jpg|leaves and flowers

Image:Ozothamnus diosmifolius (closeup of buds).jpg|pink form

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• {{Wikispecies-inline|Ozothamnus diosmifolius|Ozothamnus diosmifolius}}
• {{Commons-inline|Ozothamnus diosmifolius |Ozothamnus diosmifolius}}

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diosmifolius

Category:Asterales of Australia

Category:Flora of Queensland

Category:Flora of New South Wales

Category:Plants described in 1804

Category:Taxa named by Étienne Pierre Ventenat