Plants of
South Australia
Westringia rigida
Lamiaceae
Stiff Western Rosemary,
Stiff Westringia
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
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Near threatened
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Vulnerable
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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: 2

Prior names

Westringia dampiera, partly

Common names

Stiff Western Rosemary

Stiff Westringia

Etymology

Westringia named after Dr Johan Peter Westring (1753-1783), a Swedish physician and writer on lichens. Rigida from the Latin 'rigidus' meaning stiff; referring to the stiff leaves and stems.

Distribution and status

Found across the middle part of South Australia, growing on shallow or deep sandy soils, frequently overlying limestone or sandstone, in Eucalyptus mallee or open Eucalyptus woodland communities. Also found in all states except in the Northern Territory. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: North Western, Nullarbor, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Alinytjara Wilurara, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Arid Lands, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Erect shrub to 0.6 m high. Leaves in whorls of 3 or 4, ovate to lanceolate, to 5.2 mm long and 2 mm wide, rigid, sparsely to moderately hairy. Inflorescence raceme-like on leafy branches with flowers tubular white, often with a mauve tinge, with orange to orange-brown dots. Flowering between August and November. Fruits are dark brown woody capsule to 1.8 mm long, with four segments. Seeds are brown ovoid seed to 3 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, with a large plug on one side. Seed embryo type is spatulate fully developed.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between November 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. This species has physiological dormancy that needs to be overcome for the seed to germinate.