Waitzia acuminata

Waitzia acuminata steetz can grow up to 600 mm high and has reddish stems. The plants stem indumentum is sparsely glandular and glandular pilose.{{Cite journal |last1=Weber |first1=X.A |last2=Schmidt-Lebuhn |first2=A.N |title=Generic boundaries of Leucochrysum and Waitzia (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) |url= |journal=Australian Systematic Botany |pages=203–218}} It has narrow green leaves that are about 20-70mm long. The flower heads are shaped like an egg or bell and have yellow/orange coloured petals. The plants flowers often grow in bunches from each stem. The plants seeds have a bumpy surface and are narrow with tapered ends.{{Cite web |title=APII database extract: photo_class = 'nsb' and photo_no = '180' |url=https://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/phtml?pc=nsb&pn=180&size=3 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=www.anbg.gov.au}} Each seed has up to twenty long fine bristles which protrude from one of the tapered ends. Waitzia accuminata var. albicans is a less common variety, it has similar characteristics apart from the flowers. The flowers develop with a pink colour that gradually turns white as the flower blossoms.

Waitzia acuminata belongs to the tribe Inuleae (Asteraceae) within the sub-tribe Gnaphalieae.{{Cite journal |last1=Jakupovic |first1=J |last2=Schuster |first2=A |last3=Bohlmann, F |first3=F |last4=King |first4=R.M |last5=Haegit |first5=L |date=1989 |title=Labdane derivatives and other constituents from Waitzia acuminata |url= |journal=Phytochemistry |volume=28 |issue=7 |pages=1943–1948|doi=10.1016/S0031-9422(00)97891-9 }} Waitzia acuminata is one of five species of the genus Waitzia. At present there are two variations of Waitzia acuminata; Waitzia acuminata steetz and Waitzia acuminata var. albicans.{{cite web | url=https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/13330 | title=Florabase—the Western Australian Flora }}

The species is most abundant in the southern half of Western Australia. It is also sparsely distributed amongst arid parts of the other mainland states. The plant is typically found in environments containing deep sandy red soils and in shallow stony soils (sandstone and granite) amongst mallee and mulgoa woodlands. The plant is also known to grow in saline depressions, sand, loam, gravel, litter, laterite, sand dunes, plains, and clay soils.

Waitzia acuminata grows in sand dunes and rocky outcrops, favouring warmer climates{{Cite journal |last1=Dwyer |first1=J.M |last2=Erickson |first2=T.E |date=2016 |title=Warmer seed environments increase germination fractions in Australian winter annual plant species |url= |journal=Ecosphere|volume=7 |issue=10 |doi=10.1002/ecs2.1497 |doi-access=free }} and areas with high sun exposure.

The plants germination rate is affected by temperature and light, previous studies have shown the seeds germination rate is greater or more rapid in warmer climatic conditions. Another study has shown that exposure to light can stimulate the plants germination rate. Waitzia accuminata uses cross pollination via insects.{{Cite journal |last1=Loy |first1=X |last2=Wainwright |first2=C.E |last3=Mayfield |first3=M.M |date=2015 |title=Asteraceae invaders have limited impacts on the pollination of common native annual species in SW Western Australia's open woodland wildflower communities |url= |journal=Plant Ecology |volume=216 |issue=8 |pages=1103–1115|doi=10.1007/s11258-015-0495-3 |s2cid=15942157 }}

Prior studies suggest environments with increased exotic grasses may have decreased abundance of Waitzia acuminata.{{Cite journal |last1=Wainwright |first1=C.E |last2=Dwyer |first2=J.M |last3=Mayfield |first3=M.M |date=2017 |title=Effects of exotic annual grass litter and local environmental gradients on annual plant community structure |url= |journal=Plant Ecology |pages=479–491}}

Due to its aesthetics Waitzia acuminata is used in as an ornamental garden plant across parts of Australia. For example, it is featured in the Kings Park Botanic Garden in Western Australia.

Image:P9270019 Waitzia acuminata.jpg|Massed flowers

• [https://www.anbg.gov.au/cgi-bin/phtml?pc=nsb&pn=180&size=3 Seed of Waitzia acuminata.] Australian Plant Image Index, Australian National Botanic Gardens, Australian National Herbarium.

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acuminata

Category:Flora of New South Wales

Category:Flora of the Northern Territory

Category:Flora of South Australia

Category:Flora of Victoria (state)

Category:Eudicots of Western Australia

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