Plants of
South Australia
Halgania cyanea
Boraginaceae
Rough Halgania,
Rough Blue-flower
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
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Extinct
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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: 5

Prior names

Halgania strigosa

Common names

Rough Halgania

Rough Blue-flower

Etymology

Halgania named in honour of Emmanuel Halgan (1771-1852), vice-admiral of the French navy. Cyanea from the Greek 'cyaneos' meaning blue, referring to the blue flowers of the species.

Distribution and status

Found across much of South Australia but mainly in the central parts, growing in mallee communities. Also found in all mainland States. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other States.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Lake Eyre, Nullarbor, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Perennial shrubs to 60 cm high with many branches, more or less densely covered with hairs. Leaves usually sessile, entire to more or less toothed; usually oblanceolate to narrowly wedge-shaped or linear-elliptic, to 25 mm long and 5 mm wide; acute, obtuse or truncate; flat or folded lengthwise and more or less convex below; covered with appressed double-ended hairs. Inflorescence terminal with a number of clusters each with 1-3 bright-blue flowers. Sepals connate in the lower third or to half their length, equal, linear-triangular to lanceolate. Corolla rotate, with lobes ovate to lanceolate, usually bright-blue, with a few double-ended hairs outside. Stamens with free filaments, inserted in the throat of the corolla tube, with anthers exposed in an erect column around the style; narrowly ovoid, with a terminal appendage, stiffly erect, hairy and with hooked hairs on the inside. Flowers through out the year. Fruits are brown indehiscent drupe.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between January and December. Collect fruits that are maturing, fat and hard. Place the fruits in a tray and leave to dry for two weeks. Then rub the fruit gently to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. 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.

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