Citation: D. Cooke, sp. nov.

Derivation: The epithet (Latinised Greek: salt-loving) refers to the habitat of the species.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Compact herb 3-7 cm high; stem regularly cymose-branched, glabrous; leaves subamplexicaul, linear and entire or rarely dilated near the apex with a single lateral lobe, acute, 1-3.5 cm long, to 1.5 mm wide, subterete, succulent, glabrous, green.

Capitula borne at successive levels, the uppermost overtopped by the leaves, the others in the dichotomous forks of branches, 4-5 mm diam.; involucral bracts ovate to oblong, 2-3 mm long, ciliolate, with acute incurved apices; female florets 30-55; receptacular scales obovate, apiculate, 2-3 mm long, complicate, straw-coloured.

Achenes c. 1.5 mm long, fawn-villous; pappus bristles 2-3; sterile florets 7-12; corolla c. 1.2 mm long; abortive achene c. 1.5 mm long, straw-coloured; pappus bristles 8-10, very unequal, to 1.4 mm long; receptacle and scales persistent and hardened in fruit, retaining the fertile achenes except for the outermost.

Distribution:  Within this State, recorded only from the salt lakes between Penong and Point Sinclair, but possibly more widespread on the western coast; extends to the Kalgoorlie and Carnarvon areas of inland W.Aust. S.Aust.: EP.   W.Aust. On margins of salt lakes, including gypsum deposits. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Sept. — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: Holotype: c. 3 km S of Penong, S.Aust., P. Wilson 1589, 11.ix. 1960 (AD 96132050). Isotypes: LP, M, MEL. Herba compacta 3-7 cm alta; caulis ordinate sympodialis glaber; folia subamplexicaulia linearia integra raro dilatata versus apicem lobo unico laterali acuta 1-3.5 cm longa ad 1.5 mm lata subteretia succulenta glabra; capitula tabulatis successivis portata, suprema foliis superata, cetera in furcis sessilia, 4-5 mm diametro; bracteae involucrales ovatae oblongaeve 2-3 mm longae ciliolatae, apicibus acutis inflexis; flosculi feminei 30-55; squamae receptaculares obovatae apiculatae 2-3 mm longae complicatae stramineae; achaenia fertilia c. 1.5 mm longa hinnuleo-villosa, setis papporum 2-3; flosculi steriles 7-12, corollis c. 1.2 mm longis, antheris c. 0.5 mm longis; achaenia abortiva c. 1.5 mm longa straminea, setis papporum 8-10 valde inaequalibus ad 1.4 mm longis; receptaculum squamaeque persistentia indurescentia achaenia fenilia praeter extima retinentia.

Taxonomic notes: Holotype: c. 3 km S of Penong, S.Aust., P. Wilson 1589, 11.ix. 1960 (AD 96132050). Isotypes: LP, M, MEL. Herba compacta 3-7 cm alta; caulis ordinate sympodialis glaber; folia subamplexicaulia linearia integra raro dilatata versus apicem lobo unico laterali acuta 1-3.5 cm longa ad 1.5 mm lata subteretia succulenta glabra; capitula tabulatis successivis portata, suprema foliis superata, cetera in furcis sessilia, 4-5 mm diametro; bracteae involucrales ovatae oblongaeve 2-3 mm longae ciliolatae, apicibus acutis inflexis; flosculi feminei 30-55; squamae receptaculares obovatae apiculatae 2-3 mm longae complicatae stramineae; achaenia fertilia c. 1.5 mm longa hinnuleo-villosa, setis papporum 2-3; flosculi steriles 7-12, corollis c. 1.2 mm longis, antheris c. 0.5 mm longis; achaenia abortiva c. 1.5 mm longa straminea, setis papporum 8-10 valde inaequalibus ad 1.4 mm longis; receptaculum squamaeque persistentia indurescentia achaenia fenilia praeter extima retinentia. The epithet (Latinised Greek: salt-loving) refers to the habitat of the species.

Author: Not yet available