Calotis lappulacea, commonly known as the yellow burr-daisy, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae found in many parts of mainland Australia. It is a small, perennial herb with yellow globular flower-heads.
Description Calotis lappulacea is slender, upright or straggling, multi-branched perennial or small under-storey shrub to high. The stems and leaves are sparsely covered with coarse, rough to flattened, straight, rigid hairs. The leaves are oblong to narrowly egg-shaped, sessile, long, wide, entire or deeply divided, mostly toothed toward the apex and basal leaves. The globular-shaped flowers are at the end of upright stems, in diameter, florets 40-60, yellow and long. Flowering occurs mostly from September to January but may flower throughout the year. The fruit is an achene, flattened, warty, spiny and about long.
Taxonomy and naming The specific epithet "lappulacea" refers to the genus Lappula of stiffly hairy plants. The yellow burr-daisy first appeared in scientific literature in 1837, published by the systematic botanist George BenthamLes Robinson - Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney, page 133 from a specimen in the collection of Charles von Hügel.
Distribution and habitat Yellow burr-daisy is a widespread species growing on a variety of soils including dry rocky situations, on heavy clay soils and occasionally in woodland in the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and all mainland states of Australia.
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