Citation: Domin, Biblthca Bot. 89:623 (1921).

Synonymy: Anisacantha birchii F. Muell., Fragm. Phyt. Aust. 8:163 (1874); Bassia birchii (F. Muell.)F. Muell., Syst. Census Aust. Pl. 1:30 (1882).

Common name: Galvanised burr.

Description:
Intricately branched shrub to 1 m high; branches closely woolly; leaves narrow-obovate to obovate, 5-15 mm long, obtuse, woolly-villous.

Flowers solitary; perianth woolly, 4-lobed; stamens 4.

Fuiting perianth hard, woolly, persistent; attachment very oblique, elliptic, c. 1.5 mm long; tube steeply ascending, turbinate, c. 1.5 mm high and wide, ribbed; apex convex, higher on the adaxial side; spines 2 + 1 + 2, 2 abaxial spines stout, divergent, 8-15 mm long, the solitary adaxial spine usually much shorter (1-3 mm long), and the radicular adaxial pair 1-2 mm long, all sometimes rough towards the base from persistent hair bases; seed erect.

	Sclerolaena birchii fruit
Image source: fig. 169d in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).

Published illustration: B. A. Auld & P.M. Martin (1976) Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 100:t. 17; F. Mueller (1891) Iconography of Australian salsolaceous plants, t. 72 (excluding right-hand figures); Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 249.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, FR, NL, MU.   N.T.; Qld; N.S.W. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Flowers and/or fruits: all months.

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