Chiliotrichum diffusum

Chiliotrichum diffusum is a species of small shrub, a flowering plant in the daisy family, Asteraceae, commonly known as fachine, fascine or mata verde in Spanish.[1] It is native to the southern tip of South America and the Falkland Islands.

Chiliotrichum diffusum
Chiliotrichum diffusum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Tribe:	Astereae
Genus:	Chiliotrichum
Species:	C. diffusum
Binomial name
Chiliotrichum diffusum (G.Forst.) Kuntze

Description

Chiliotrichum diffusum is a small, much-branched shrub growing to a height of about 1.5 m (5 ft). It resembles a rosemary bush with aromatic greyish-green foliage. The leaves are elliptical or lanceolate, dark green above and hairy beneath. The white, daisy-like flowers are about 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter.[2][3]

Distribution and habitat

Its range extends from Valdivia to the Magallanes Province in Chile and it is found in the southern part of Argentina, from sea level to about 400 m (1,312 ft).[3]

In the Falklands Islands, at one time it was common but since the arrival of livestock on the islands, it now mainly occurs in valley bottoms, ravines and other inaccessible places.[2] In southern Chile and Argentina it is the dominant plant on the fringes of the Nothofagus forest.[3]

Ecology

Chiliotrichum diffusum is native to steppe grassland in Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands, where it is one of the dominant shrubby plants in a community that includes Trevoa, Schinus polygama, Paleaepappus patagonicus, Berberis microphylla, various grasses and sedges.[4]

References

1. Abraham, Rudolf (2011). Torres del Paine: Trekking in Chile's Premier National Park. Cicerone Press Limited. p. 32. ISBN 978-1-84965-356-5.
2. Hince, Bernadette (2000). The Antarctic Dictionary: A Complete Guide to Antarctic English. Csiro Publishing. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-643-10232-3.
3. Chester, Sharon (2010). A Wildlife Guide to Chile: Continental Chile, Chilean Antarctica, Easter Island, Juan Fernandez Archipelago. Princeton University Press. p. 88. ISBN 1-4008-3150-4.
4. Frame, John (2005). Grasslands: Developments, Opportunities, Perspectives. Science Publishers. p. 467. ISBN 978-1-57808-359-6.