Plants of
South Australia
Pityrodia loricata
Lamiaceae
Scaly Foxglove
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Adelaide
Arkaroola
Ceduna
Coober Pedy
Hawker
Innamincka
Marla
Marree
Mount Gambier
Oodnadatta
Renmark
Wudinna
Keith
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Prior names

Chloanthes loricata

Etymology

Pityrodia from the Greek 'pityron' meaning bran, husk, scale and 'oidos' meaning resembling, referring to the scaly leaves of the original species and most of the others. Loricata from the Latin 'lorica' meaning corselet and 'ata' meaning resembling, referring to the scaly on the plant resembling the corselet of a Mediaeval soldier.

Distribution and status

Found in the west central part of South Australia but with very few records, growing on red sand in sand dunes. Also found in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Native. Rare in South Australia. Uncommon in the Northern Territory. Common in Western Australia.
Herbarium region: North Western
NRM region: Alinytjara Wilurara
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

A much branched low shrub to 60 cm high; glabrous but very densely scaly all over. Stem and branches densely clothed with silvery scales, otherwise glabrous. Leaves sessile, oblong-lanceolate or narrowly elliptic-lanceolate, rather crowded on the branches; flat, non-decurrent, entire, to 25 mm long and 5 mm wide; densely clothed with shining scales similar to those on the stem. Flowers almost sessile or on short stalk, mostly 3 together in the axil of upper leaves, with pale pinkish-white tubular flowers. Flowering between May and November. Fruits are apparently non-dehiscent; hairy, obovoid-pyriform capsule to 4.5 mm long and 3 mm in diameter at the top end, enclosed within the persistent calyx.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between September and January. Collect capsules that are fat and turning brown. A lot of time will be required to collect sufficient amount of seeds. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks. Then rub the capsules gently with a rubber bung 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.