Plants of
South Australia
Dissocarpus paradoxus
Amaranthaceae
Cannonball Burr,
Ball Bindyi,
Hard-head Saltbush
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Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
Yunta
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Botanical art

Kath Alcock paintings: 7

Prior names

Sclerolaena paradoxa

Bassia paradoxa

Common names

Cannonball Burr

Ball Bindyi

Hard-head Saltbush

Etymology

Dissocarpus from the Greek 'dissos' meaning two fold and 'carpos' meaning fruit, referring to the paired fruits of the original species. Paradoxus from Latin meaning contrary to the usual type, anomalous.

Distribution and status

Found across the northern part of South Australia, growing on clay or on scalded zones. Also found in all mainland states. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Annual or short lived perennial erect or decumbent shrub to 50 cm high with woolly branches. Leaves semiterete, slender, to 15 mm long, densely white woolly. Flowers 8-16, united into woolly spherical axillary clusters. Flower throughout the year. Fruits are woolly, burr-like fruit to 15 mm diameter, woody in the central part, covered in hooked spines. Seed embryo type is peripheral

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between January and December. Collect fruit that are large, hard and turning brown. Be careful as the fruits are spiny. Place the fruits in a tray and leave to dry for 1-2 weeks. No further cleaning is required if only the fruits are collected. Store the dried fruit heads with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Germination 89%, seed scarified (covering structure removed) on 1% w/v agar, 16/8 dark/light, 200C. See http://data.kew.org/sid

Germination table:
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We acknowledge the contributions of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Department for Environment and Water.