Family: Amaranthaceae
Sclerolaena patenticuspis
Citation:
Ulbr., Natürl. Pflanzenfam. edn 2, 16c:534 (1934).
Synonymy: Bassia patenticuspis R. Anderson, Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 48:338 (1923).
, Sclerolaena diacantha Common name: Spearfruit copperburr, spear-fruit bassia.
Description:
Rounded perennial c. 20 cm high; branches pubescent with short curled cottony hairs; leaves linear to semiterete, 5-10 mm long, villous with simple hairs.
Flowers solitary, perianth shortly villous; stamens 5.
Fruiting perianth shortly and sparsely pilose; attachment oblique, circular or elliptic; tube shortly oblong, c. 1.5 mm high and wide, sometimes spreading at the base, adaxial surface concave, abaxial surface flat or convex; limb erect, c. 1 mm high; spines 2, laterally placed, ascending in nearly the same vertical plane, 4-7 mm long (rarely very reduced or absent); radicular tubercle very small and on the adaxial side of one of the spines; seed and radicle erect.
| Sclerolaena patenticuspis
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Image source: pl. 11 in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Distribution:
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S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, YP. W.Aust.; N.T.; N.S.W.; Vic.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: Flowers and/or fruits: probably all months, especially July — Oct.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Taxonomic notes:
A rather polymorphic species. Ising (1964) noted a form found principally in the Nullarbor Plain in which 1 or both spines were weakly developed, or were represented merely by small tubercles. In this variant the development of the spines is very variable even on the same plant.
Author:
Not yet available
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