Plants of
South Australia
Euchiton sphaericus
Asteraceae
Star Cudweed,
Annual Cudweed,
Japanese Cudweed
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
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: 9

Prior names

Gnaphalium japonicum

Gnaphalium involucratum, partly

Gnaphalium sphaericum

Common names

Star Cudweed

Annual Cudweed

Japanese Cudweed

Etymology

Euchiton From the Greek 'eu' meaning good and 'chiton' meaning tunic or covering, referring to the dense covered of hairs. Sphaericus from Greek meaning spherical in form, referring to the shape of the flower head.

Distribution and status

Found across much of South Australia growing in various habitats. Also found in all States. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Erect annual or sometimes biennial herb to 50 cm high, with stems covered in white woolly hairs. Basal leaves obovate with narrowed base and obtuse apex, soon withering; stem leaves oblanceolate to spathulate or narrow-elliptic, to 70 mm long and 14 mm wide; base narrowed, margins recurved and often undulate; upper surface green and glabrous to slightly cobwebby; lower surface white- or green- hairs. Flower heads in dense spherical clusters to 1.5 mm diameter at the tip of the stalk, with yellow, cream or brown flowers. Flowers throughout the year. Fruits are dense brown head. Seed embryo type is spatulate.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between January and December. Collect heads that are matured, creamy-brown and contain brown seeds. Place the heads in a tray for one to two week to dry. Then rub the heads gently with your hands to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate any unwanted material. Viable seeds will be small and brown. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seeds are non-dormant, viable seed should germinate readily.

Seeds stored:
  Hide
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)		Number
of plants		Date
collected		Collection number
Collection location		Date
stored		% ViabilityStorage
temperature
 
MSB
38,000 (0.653 g)		201-Oct-2007RJB74680
South Eastern		95%
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.
We acknowledge the contributions of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Department for Environment and Water.