Botanical art
Prior names
Styphelia depressa
Common names
Wiry Ground-berry
Native Currant
Etymology
Acrotriche from the Greek 'akron' meaning summit and 'thrix' meaning hair, alluding to the tuft of hairs at the tip of the corolla lobes. Depressa from Latin meaning to press down, referring to the habit being pressed flat, low to the ground.
Distribution and status
Found on Kangaroo Island, southern Mount Lofty Ranges, Murrayland and the South-east in South Australia, growing in sclerophyll forest, mallee scrub and heath on limestone and sandy ironstone. Restricted to South Australia with a small population in Victoria. Native. Uncommon in South Australia. Very rare in Victoria.
Herbarium regions: Murray, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Low growing, erect shrub with rigid branches to 80 cm high and 60 cm across. Young branches red-brown with older stems grey. Leaves thick, triangular to ovate-lanceolate to 5 mm long and 3 mm wide. Flowers pale-green along spikes to 30 mm long. Flowering between September and December. Fruits are fleshy, ovoid, dark-purple fruit to 10 mm long and 7 mm wide. Seeds are woody brown ovoid seed to 6 mm long and 3 mm wide, flatten on one side. Seed embryo type is linear underdeveloped.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and February. Lift branches carefully to locate the fruits at the base of the plant. Collect berries that are dark-purple and soft with a hard seed inside. Place the berries in a bucket of water and rub the flesh off with your hands. Drain the water and wash again if required to remove all the flesh. Then spread the wet seeds on some paper towel and leave to dry. 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. Seed viability is average for this species. This species is generally difficult to germinate, it has morphophysiological dormancy and complex germination requirements.
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA MSB | 2,150 (28 g) 2,150 (28 g) | 30-40 | 27-Oct-2005 | MKJ91 Southern Lofty | 1-Aug-2006 | 65% | -18°C |