Citation: R.Br., R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 409 (1810).

Derivation: Greek hemi, half; chroa, colour; the perianth of H. pentandra is sometimes pink inside, whitish outside.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Mallee hemichroa.

Description:
Much-branched woody herb to c. 30 cm tall and c. 50 cm wide; branches glabrous or minutely scabrid; leaves alternate, linear to lanceolate or oblanceolate, often uncinate at the tip, 3-12 mm long.

Bracteoles lanceolate, acute, nearly as long as the perianth; perianth-segments 1-nerved, linear to narrow-ovate, 3-5 mm long, pink or white; stamens 2, united on one side of the ovary, nearly as long as the perianth; filaments red; style shortly notched at the summit.

Seeds obovoid, smooth, brown.--Polycnemum diandrum (R. Br.)F. Muell., Native Pl. Vic. 1:163 (1879).

Distribution:  2 or 3 species, all endemic to Australia, growing near the sea or beside salt marshes.   All mainland States except Qld, and uncertain in N.S.W.

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Hemichroa is placed by some authors in the Chenopodiaceae (see J. H. Willis (1972) A Handbook to plants in Victoria 1:82) or the Polycnemaceae (see S. Jacobs & J. Pickard (1981) Plants of New South Wales, p. 175).

Key to Species:

1. Stamens 2, unilateral; branches glabrous or minutely scabrid. H. diandra 1
2. Leaves alternate	H. mesembryanthema 2.
2. Leaves opposite	Amaranthaceae
1. Stamens 5, surrounding the ovary; branches pubescent towards the tip	H. pentandra 3.

Author: Not yet available