Citation: F. Muell. ex J. Black, Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 42:52 (1918).

Synonymy: Styphelia costata F. Muell., Wing's South Sci. Rec. n.s. 1:75 (1885).

Common name: Twiggy beardedheath.

Description:
Slender shrub, 25-70 cm high; stems grey-brown to grey; leaves erect, stem-clasping at the base, spreading or recurred at the apex, ovate, 1.6-5 mm long, 0.9-3.2 mm wide, apex acuminate, with a callus, base cordate, margins sometimes incurved, densely ciliate, lamina thin, concave, midrib thickened towards the apex, surfaces glabrous, below with conspicuous veins, reticulate to the margins, sessile or on a petiole to 0.4 mm.

Flowers white, in 4-6 mm long spikes, terminal and in the uppermost axils, solitary or in dense clusters, with 1-4 (rarely 7) flowers per spike; bracts, bracteoles and sepals triangular to ovate, obtuse; bracts 0.7-0.9 x 0.6-0.8 mm; bracteoles 1.1-1.3 x 0.75-1.1 mm; sepals ovate, 1.6-2.3 x 0.9-1.2 mm; corolla tube cylindrical to campanulate, 1.,1-1.5 mm long, upper c. 0.7 mm puberulent inside, lobes 1.2-1.8 x 0.4-0.6 mm, acute, spreading, densely bearded inside; anthers 0.8-1.2 mm long, sterile tip recurred, 0.2-0.3 mm long; ovary a flattened sphere, 0.4-0.8 x 0.5-1.1 mm, glabrous, 2- or 3-celled; style 0.15-0.35 mm long, not exserted; nectary continuous, 0.2-0.3 mm high, the upper margin lobed.

Fruit a depressed sphere, equal to or shorter than the calyx, 1-1.3 x 1.2-2 mm, ridged.

Distribution:  Occurs in mallee and Banksia scrub and in mallee heathland on sandy soil or on ironstone rubble. S.Aust.: MU, SL, KI, SE.   Vic. Conservation status: native Flowering time: July — March; fruit: Sept. — Dec., March.

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