Citation: Muell.-Arg. in A. DC., Prod. 15:891 (1866).

Synonymy: Trachycaryon hookeri F. Muell., J. Trans. Vict. Inst. 1:16 (1854).

Common name: Mallee bitterbush, water bush.

Description:
Ascending shrub, from under 1 to 1.5 m high and 2 m diam., stems often reddish, sparsely or densely stellate-tomentose; leaves alternate, on 5-30 mm long petioles, lamina oblong or ovate-oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 2-7 cm long, rounded or cuneate, sparsely wavy to distantly crenate-toothed, often obtusely trilobed, variably stellate-hoary (never glabrous), the veins on the upper surface rather indistinct, not or hardly impressed; nectariferous glands on the tips of the teeth and base of the leaf.

male spikes 10-17cm long, to 30-flowered; bracts cordate, 2-4 mm long; calyx usually with 4 rhomboid-obtuse sepals 3-4 x c. 4 mm and few glands on the tip; female spikes 1-5 cm long, l-7-flowered; bracts ovate, to 6 mm long; calyx with 5-8 ovate overlapping sepals to 6 mm long; ovary and fruit tomentose.

capsule 8-9 mm long and wide; styles shortly united at the base; seeds ovoid, c. 6 x 4 mm, greyish-brown, smooth, shiny.

	Adriana hookeri twig, female flower and seed.
Image source: fig 395a 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. 452; Jessop (1981) Flora of central Australia, fig. 213.

Distribution:    W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Conservation status: native Flowering time: April — Jan., mainly in spring.

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

Biology: Usually confined to mallee areas, occurring in groups of a few plants of both sexes in each group. Not known to be grazed.

Taxonomic notes: Often called "water-bush" from a belief that where it grows, water can be found near the surface (J. Black (1948) Flora of South Australia, p. 514).

Author: Not yet available