Citation: Sonder in Lehm., Pl. Preiss. 1:310 (1845).

Synonymy: Styphelia hirsuta (Sonder)F. Muell., Fragm. Phyt. Aust. 6:31 (1867).

Common name: Hairy bearded-heath.

Description:
Diffuse shrub with intertwining branches, 70-100 cm high; leaves spreading to reflexed, elliptic to oblong, 3-9.5 mm long, 1.5-3.9 mm wide, apex obtuse with a callous tip, often recurved, base obtuse, margin sometimes recurved, hispid, lamina thin, flat to convex, surfaces often scabrous to sparsely villous, venation inconspicuous; petiole to 1.2 mm long.

Flowers inconspicuous, in drooping terminal and upper axillary solitary spikes 3.5-7 mm long, with 2-6 (rarely 9) flowers per spike; bracts, bracteoles and sepals with obtuse apices, surfaces and margins puberulent; bracts 0.65-1.3 x 0.4-0.8 mm; bracteoles 0.7-1 x 0.45-0.9 mm; sepals 1-1.45 x 0.5-0.85 mm; corolla tube broadly campanulate, 0.5-0.7 mm long, glabrous, lobes 1-1.35 x 0.35-0.6 mm, recurved, acute, sparsely and shortly bearded on the upper half only; anthers 0.6-0.75 mm long, sterile tip 0.05-0.1 mm long; ovary 0.35-0.5 x 0.3-0.55 mm, 2-celled; style 0.2-0.35 mm high, not exserted; nectary continuous, 0.15-0.3 mm high, the upper margin lobed.

Fruit exceeding the calyx, 1.85-2.25 x 1.85-2.8 mm, apex rounded but the style often obliquely positioned.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: SL, KI.   W.Aust. Occurs on margins of swampy areas. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Aug. — Oct.; fruit: mature Nov. — Dec.

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