Citation: Paul G. Wilson, sp. nov.

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: None

Description:
Compact rounded perennial to 30 cm high; branches shortly, pilose; leaves scattered, mostly narrow-oblong, c. 7 mm long, 1-1.5 mm wide, sometimes becoming linear to 30 mm long with age, villous.

Flowers solitary, bisexual; stamens 5.

Fruiting perianth woody, villous; attachment basal, circular, 0.5-0.8 mm diam., slightly concave; tube broadly turbinate to cup-shaped, c. 1.5 mm high, 1.5-2 mm wide at the apex, smooth; upper surface more or less square, flat apart from the prominent erect chartaceous limb c. 2 mm high; spines 3 + 2, divaricate to ascending, acicular, 2 lateral and one adaxial c. 3.5 mm long, and an unequal adaxial radicular pair fused towards their bases c. 3 mm and c. 2 mm long; seed horizontal with centripetal radicle.

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

Distribution:  S.Aust.: LE. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Flowers and/or fruits: July — Aug. (few records).

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

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Type: Purni Bore, Simpson Desert, South Australia, 26º16'S, 136º05'E, 15 July 1984, F. J. Badman 1354 (holo: AD: iso: PERTH). Latin description: Herba perennis rotundata ad 30 cm alta. Ramuli breviter pilosi. Folia alterna, anguste oblonga, c. 7 mm 1onga, 1-1.5 mm lata, villosa. Flores solitarii; stamina 5, perianthium fructiferum lignosum, villosum; tubus late turbinatus vel cupularis, c. 1.5 mm altus, 1.5-2 mm latus, laevis; limbus prominens, erectus, chartaceus, c. 2 mm altus; spinae 3 + 2, divaricatae, aciculares; spinae majores 3 c. 3.5 mm 1onga; spinae minores contiguae inaequales c. 3 mm et 2 mm longae. The epithet fontinalis (Latin: growing by springs) alludes to the plant's preferred habitat.

Author: Not yet available