Botanical art
Prior names
Helichrysum scorpioides, partly
Etymology
Coronidium from the Greek 'korone' meaning a crown and the diminutive '-idion'; referring to the short pappus crown that in the Coronidium oxylepis group of species remains on the cypsela after the pappus bristles have broken near their base and fallen away. Scorpioides means resembling a scorpion; unsure which part of the plant this is referring to.
Distribution and status
Found in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges to the lower South-east in South Australia, growing in reasonably well-drained open forest to heathy woodlands. Also found in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Native. Common in South Australia. Rare in Queensland. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Murray, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Ascending to erect rhizomatous perennial herb to 55 cm high with simple or few-branching stems usually from a basal rosette, covered in cottony hairs. Rosette leaves (when present) obovate to oblanceolate, to 90 mm long and 21 mm wide, stem leaves similar but narrower with attenuate apices, becoming linear, usually discolorous, moderately firm-textured, upper surface hispid to scabrous from retained bases of coarse hairs, lower surface with cottony hairs, apex obtuse to acute, usually with a distinct mucro, margins flat to recurved. Flower heads solitary, depressed-hemispherical to 35 mm diameter with pale or lemon-yellow, rarely golden-yellow daisy flower. Flowering between October and January. Fruits are dried papery daisy-head. Seeds are brown oblong seed to 2.5 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, with long white feather-liked pappus. Seed embryo type is spatulate.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between December and March. Collect whole heads that are drying off or collect just the seeds by plucking it out of the centre of the daisy-flower with your fingers. Mature seeds are easily removed. Place the heads in a tray for a week to dry. Then pluck the seeds from the head with your finders. Viable seeds will be fat 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.
| Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGA MSB | 10,000 (6.14 g) 10,000 (6.14 g) | 100+ | 31-Dec-2005 | KHB40 Southern Lofty | 14-Sep-2006 | 30% | -18°C |
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.