The
daisy family is one of Tasmanias most diverse and
widespread. It includes many native herbs and shrubs, a couple
of trees, many naturalised herbs and many important weeds. Species
are common in all habitats except rainforest and sedgeland. They are especially prominent in alpine
areas and grasslands.
The flowers are in compact heads that
may resemble flowers. Bracts called phyllaries surround the heads. There
are two flower types: tube flowers (elongate, radially symmetrical corolla
tubes with short lobes) and ray flowers (asymmetrical flowers, usually
with short tubes with one side extended into an elongate strap). Species
may have one or both flower types, and the phyllaries can resemble ray flowers.
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