There is only one known species, Kippistia suaedifolia, native to Australia. It is found in every state and territory in the country except Tasmania.[2][6][7]
Description
Kippistia suaedifolia is small shrub to growing 60cm. It is dense with many wiry branches. Leaves are succulent and without hair, from 0.2cm to 2.5cm long, straight and sometimes cylindrical with a curved point at the tip. The single yellow bell-shaped flowers at the ends of stems, as other daisy flowers, are made up of disc florets and ray florets. The achenes or fruit of the ray florets have hairs at the base, those of the disc florets do not. [8][9][10]
The species is widespread across South Australia and Inland in Western Australia from central regions to the South.[12][13] In Victoria north from Dimboola and chiefly to the West of Salt Lake. In the Northern Territory south of Alice Springs [14] and to the south and west of Mount Windsor Station in Queensland.[15] In New South Wales to the West and North-West of Weelah Forest (Condobolan area). There are also several records near Conoble in the Ivanhoe Distsrict.[16][17]
Ecology
Kippistia suaedifolia flowers from August to November and is usually fairly abundant in the populations where it is found.[18] The species is generally found around salt lakes and in depressions on gypsum and on gypsum outcrops.[19]K. suaedifolia is thought to be an obligate Gypsophile, favouring sites with high purity of gypsum deposits over sites where the quality of the gypsum is considered poor.[20][21]
Uses
Essential oils distilled from K. suaedifolia are perillyl acetate and limonene. Perillyl acetate is used in food flavouring and the perfume industry.[22]Limonene is also used as flavouring and in the perfume industry. It is also used in cosmetics [23]
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