Citation: F. Muell., Fragm. Phyt. Aust. 2:165 (1861).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Goosefoot potato-bush.

Description:
An erect shrub 0.5-1 m tall, woody towards the base; prickles to 1 cm long, straight or slightly recurred, scattered on stems, rarely dense or absent, less common on leaves and the calyx; all parts pubescent with minute stellate hairs, sparse above, dense below, general appearance discolorous; leaves 3-9 x 1.5-6 cm, variable, almost hastate with 2-4 lobes towards the base, lower pair of lobes short or rounded, second pair larger, bluntly triangular, sinuses rounded and shallow, apex rounded or acute, base oblique, cuneate, truncate or cordate; petiole 1-2 cm long.

Inflorescence a short cyme of 3-8 flowers, 1-3 cm long, from an extra-axillary position; peduncle c. 5 mm long; floral rhachis 0.5-2.5 cm long; pedicels 5-6 mm long; calyx tube 1-2 mm long, lobes 3-4 mm long, lanceolate, acumen 1-2 mm long; corolla 1.5-2 cm diam., stellate, pale-lilac or white, open or reflexed, petal acumens short and triangular; filaments c. 1 mm long; anthers 4-5 mm long, oblong, loosely erect, with glandular hairs towards the apex; style erect, c. 8 mm long, projecting 2-3 mm beyond the anthers, slightly thickened upwards; glandular hairy below; stigma capitate, green.

Fruiting peduncle, pedicel and calyx not much enlarged (calyx lobes to 4 mm long); fruit 5-9 mm diam., globular, at maturity a bright shiny red, succulent, finally almost black when dry, little flesh enclosing the seeds; seeds 3-4 (rarely 5) mm long, rather large for the size of the berry, thin, often twisted or bent, pale or distinctly yellow, 4-16 per fruit.

	Flowering and fruiting branch and a fruit.
Image source: fig. 573D in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 594.

Distribution:  An uncommon species with a disjunct distribution in arid Australia. S.Aust.: LE, GT, FR, EA, EP.   N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Conservation status: native Flowering time: most of the year with a peak in late summer.

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

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available